Chapter 2: Introductions
Jheryth felt his lightsabre fly off from his belt a moment before he felt an unfamiliar presence at the edge of the clearing. He turned in the direction of the invader, standing to his feet in one motion. He saw the blade of this lightsabre ignite, hovering in mid-air, casting a faint glow against a blurry figure. He moved cautiously towards the strange visage, stretching out with the Force to gain any information about this new threat. The closer he got, the more solid the figure became, revealing a humanoid shape just barely taller than his own six feet, though not as broad. The stranger was clothed in green robes with black trim and odd symbols. Jheryth kept his focus more on his lightsaber, ready to react, taking into account the sleeved arm hovering over the handle. An older voice, strong and commanding, emanated forth, having a very strong and unfamiliar accent, "A well constructed lightsabre. Very classic design. That part is very curious, though perhaps not very surprising." Jheryth remembered hearing the voice not to long ago.
The man lowered his hood, the green glow of his eyes revealing stark white hair and a face very similar to his father's. "When I found you in this clearing, five years ago, I had very high expectations." Jheryth narrowed his eyes, studying the man's face, his hand twitching slightly, wanting to grab his saber. The body of the man shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes seemed to arc green tendrils of energy from his pupils outward. "What are you?", Jheryth asked softly, awed and intrigued by the power of the man before him. A wicked grin spread across The man's lips as the green energy in his eyes sparked more intensly, "What I am is not of real consequence. Who I am to you, and if you can live up to those expectations, that is the real question." He motioned his hand along the saber's projection, "I see you chose a red color crystal. How common." Rage contorted Jheryth's face, grabbing his lightsabre, "I am a Sith Lord!" As he swung his sabre, the man calmly put his hand up, creating a barrier that held the swing in place, "I've heard that mantra that you chose, and you're going to cling to belonging to the Sith? You don't fit in. Not with Jedi. Or Sith. You could care less about the Empire, and even House Ulgo has disowned you." Jheryth starred in disbelief, turning off his sabre and attaching it back to his belt, "How do you know this?"
The man smiled for the first time, "I know a great deal about your family, and what they truly come from." He motioned a hand towards the clearing, "This place that you claim as home, this clearing, this forest, it is not by chance. It already belongs to you. If you want to know who you are, and what you could become, then find what I have left here for you. You will find what you really belong to." The man became translucent, then faded away in a green mist.
8/16/2013
Unexpected News
Kel'ri stared at the datapad in her hand. Two hours ago, she'd been laughing and playing truth or dare with a bunch of friends, and now...
She should be crying, shouldn't she? When her mother had died, she'd cried for days as though the world had ended. She began to feel guilty for the relief that she had felt when Deke'o had given her the news, because the secrets she'd so carefully guarded could now die with the rest of her family.
Wasn't she just talking with someone about their father? Rhiordan had been talking about her father, and he was happy for her. Kel'ri had smiled and been happy for her without the slightest sense of jealousy for a father that could be a good influence in his daughter's life. It was like just that small story made it easy to share in that feeling of being loved by a good father.
She imagined her father as he was before her mother's passing, warm and filled with a father's love for his little girl who detested skirts and could beat the boys at most any game on the playground and was teased by her older brothers. But she'd already mourned the loss of that father, hadn't she? He'd been replaced by someone she couldn't recognize, filled with anger and contempt for anything that reminded him of his loss - including Kel'ri.
The datapad slowly unblurred as she blinked back the unshed tears from her eyes, and she counted the zeroes again. Deke'o had called it her 'share', her inheritance. It was carefully diverted and disguised so that she couldn't be traced by it, he'd said. Now, what to do with it...
And why wasn't she crying?
She should be crying, shouldn't she? When her mother had died, she'd cried for days as though the world had ended. She began to feel guilty for the relief that she had felt when Deke'o had given her the news, because the secrets she'd so carefully guarded could now die with the rest of her family.
Wasn't she just talking with someone about their father? Rhiordan had been talking about her father, and he was happy for her. Kel'ri had smiled and been happy for her without the slightest sense of jealousy for a father that could be a good influence in his daughter's life. It was like just that small story made it easy to share in that feeling of being loved by a good father.
She imagined her father as he was before her mother's passing, warm and filled with a father's love for his little girl who detested skirts and could beat the boys at most any game on the playground and was teased by her older brothers. But she'd already mourned the loss of that father, hadn't she? He'd been replaced by someone she couldn't recognize, filled with anger and contempt for anything that reminded him of his loss - including Kel'ri.
The datapad slowly unblurred as she blinked back the unshed tears from her eyes, and she counted the zeroes again. Deke'o had called it her 'share', her inheritance. It was carefully diverted and disguised so that she couldn't be traced by it, he'd said. Now, what to do with it...
And why wasn't she crying?
8/13/2013
In Over Her Head, pt 4
Deke'o Starbreaker waits in the cockpit of The Maiden, having landed it in a clearing a kilometer or so from the Jedi training grounds, near the Twi'lek village. It seemed like not so long ago he'd first hooked up with his Jedi to deliver medical supplies here. Now they were back, and he was getting impatient.
When Litessen finally returns to the ship, she quickly heads for the cockpit, instinctively knowing where he would be and aware of his impatience long before arriving. As he turns to greet her, she gives him a warm smile that is purely for his benefit after the series of discussions and meetings she's spent the day in.
"Thank you for that database you recovered. It helped a great deal. Though I should tell you that neither of us will ever receive credit for its retrieval. Officially, while Master Zaron was on Taris last year, he discovered it as well as a little Mirialan girl who showed remarkable force sensitivity, and he brought both back with him at the time."
Deke'o gives her one of his lopsided grins when she finishes, putting his feet up on the console as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Officially, if they're able to tell lies like that, they should have no trouble making up some grand story, with appropriate heroics, for getting us some additional pay."
Litessen can't help but smile at his response. "Don't hold your breath. Still...since the negotiations I attended did not officially take place, there is little likelihood that anyone from the Republic will investigate Yen's existence. If someone does inquire after her, the Council has agreed to keep her true identity a secret."
Deke'o gets annoyed, but it's not because he's missing out on a payday for the database. It's because of her phrasing. "Oh they agreed did they? If they hadn't, the Republic would have needed new Jedi leadership. Did you give them my suggestion that she could change her name to Yen Starbreaker?"
Litessen answers patiently, "No, I did not. She'll be safer with a name that doesn't connect her in any way to you or I. The threat isn't past. After speaking with Yen, the Council has given me a new directive. It seems the circumstances surrounding her planned sale were a bit more complicated than a slaving transaction.
"The man who owned her - Jalif Makria - is part of a powerful merchant guild that operates in both the Empire and the Republic - discreetly, of course. While I agree with your feelings about slavery in general, as slave owners go, he seems to be among a minority that actually treat their slaves well and keep families together, even caring for their needs responsibly beyond the minimum necessities. Yen describes him very favorably, and she has grown up with her mother and two sisters."
Deke'o frowns, but lets the need to express his distaste go. "Speaking of threats, has there been any news of a handless man found dead on Taris? 'Cause that would make my day, actually."
"I haven't had the opportunity to look, but my feeling is that the bounty hunter won't last long if he did survive. There's a Sith involved in this. They don't like failure."
"As I said, this is more complicated," she added.
"With the Sith, things always are. You're trained for them, right?"
Litessen nods. "Yen's owner didn't want to sell her. He brought her back to his space station so that she could say goodbye to her family first."
"So, if we want to make sure she is completely safe, we just need to find this Sith and destroy him. Perhaps we should just start with every single one we meet, we'll eventually narrow it down."
"Perhaps we should talk when you can be less emotional about this?"
"This isn't emotional. This is me wanting to make sure that little girl never has to look over her shoulder."
Litessen turns a console chair to face him and slides into it. "Alright. Explain to me in realistic terms how you plan to go into a full on war against the Empire, and don't forget to include every Hutt and every gangster in the known universe."
She pauses to let that sink in before continuing. "The only way to safeguard her is to take this step by step, and even then, she won't always be safe - not from everything that could ever happen to her, anyway."
Deke'o gets one of his grins that says he's either got something completely brilliant in mind, or something sarcastic, or both. "Have you ever heard of the Foundry?"
Litessen sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to regret whatever you're about to say, aren't I?"
"Well, you asked how I planned to go into a full on war against the Empire."
"I was trying to make a point."
"I know. I'm just worried for her."
"She's safe now, Deke'o. I'm more worried about why this Sith wanted her enough to pressure one of the richest men in the universe into selling her."
"I know, I know." He throws his hands up in surrender. "And that's really the question. What about Yen was so special? I mean, she's an amazing kid, probably my favorite in the Galaxy. Was there something about her force ability?"
"Nothing that sets her apart from any other force sensitive youth. And if he just wanted her for training, Makria would've spun it that way when he sat down with the family to explain the situation. Instead, he offered the mother the consolation that he would make sure that Yen's sisters would have the best positions he could give them in his household. To Yen, it was as if they were already mourning her death. She knew she was in terrible danger."
Deke'o clenches a fist, but doesn't have another outburst - yet. He thinks on it for several long moments, then shakes his head as if to drive the thoughts away, like they're in a place he doesn't even want to think about. He just looks at Litessen, waiting to see if she's got any insight into the situation.
"Yen met him. I have a description, at least, but no name. I can't go back to Makria, because it would confirm that I took her. Right now, all her safety rests in the details of her disappearance being as scarce as possible. All I have is her accounting of the meeting, and it was very brief."
"I could try my underworld contacts. Through an intermediary of course. I wouldn't risk my name being associated with it."
Litessen nods. "That might help." She falls silent for a thoughtful moment. "She said that when he approached her, she knew her death was waiting with him. I don't know if she realized she was force sensitive before that moment."
"As much as I don't want to, I could also try an old adversary in Imperial Intelligence. He owes me a favor, might be able to get us a name from the description. Maybe."
"It's a place to start. Thank you."
[This post is converted from a scene RP'd with player-Deke'o. Huge thanks to him for allowing me to use it and for his contribution to this story. I'm only ever as good as the people I have the privilege of RP'ing with, and he is, as always, a great friend.]
When Litessen finally returns to the ship, she quickly heads for the cockpit, instinctively knowing where he would be and aware of his impatience long before arriving. As he turns to greet her, she gives him a warm smile that is purely for his benefit after the series of discussions and meetings she's spent the day in.
"Thank you for that database you recovered. It helped a great deal. Though I should tell you that neither of us will ever receive credit for its retrieval. Officially, while Master Zaron was on Taris last year, he discovered it as well as a little Mirialan girl who showed remarkable force sensitivity, and he brought both back with him at the time."
Deke'o gives her one of his lopsided grins when she finishes, putting his feet up on the console as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Officially, if they're able to tell lies like that, they should have no trouble making up some grand story, with appropriate heroics, for getting us some additional pay."
Litessen can't help but smile at his response. "Don't hold your breath. Still...since the negotiations I attended did not officially take place, there is little likelihood that anyone from the Republic will investigate Yen's existence. If someone does inquire after her, the Council has agreed to keep her true identity a secret."
Deke'o gets annoyed, but it's not because he's missing out on a payday for the database. It's because of her phrasing. "Oh they agreed did they? If they hadn't, the Republic would have needed new Jedi leadership. Did you give them my suggestion that she could change her name to Yen Starbreaker?"
Litessen answers patiently, "No, I did not. She'll be safer with a name that doesn't connect her in any way to you or I. The threat isn't past. After speaking with Yen, the Council has given me a new directive. It seems the circumstances surrounding her planned sale were a bit more complicated than a slaving transaction.
"The man who owned her - Jalif Makria - is part of a powerful merchant guild that operates in both the Empire and the Republic - discreetly, of course. While I agree with your feelings about slavery in general, as slave owners go, he seems to be among a minority that actually treat their slaves well and keep families together, even caring for their needs responsibly beyond the minimum necessities. Yen describes him very favorably, and she has grown up with her mother and two sisters."
Deke'o frowns, but lets the need to express his distaste go. "Speaking of threats, has there been any news of a handless man found dead on Taris? 'Cause that would make my day, actually."
"I haven't had the opportunity to look, but my feeling is that the bounty hunter won't last long if he did survive. There's a Sith involved in this. They don't like failure."
"As I said, this is more complicated," she added.
"With the Sith, things always are. You're trained for them, right?"
Litessen nods. "Yen's owner didn't want to sell her. He brought her back to his space station so that she could say goodbye to her family first."
"So, if we want to make sure she is completely safe, we just need to find this Sith and destroy him. Perhaps we should just start with every single one we meet, we'll eventually narrow it down."
"Perhaps we should talk when you can be less emotional about this?"
"This isn't emotional. This is me wanting to make sure that little girl never has to look over her shoulder."
Litessen turns a console chair to face him and slides into it. "Alright. Explain to me in realistic terms how you plan to go into a full on war against the Empire, and don't forget to include every Hutt and every gangster in the known universe."
She pauses to let that sink in before continuing. "The only way to safeguard her is to take this step by step, and even then, she won't always be safe - not from everything that could ever happen to her, anyway."
Deke'o gets one of his grins that says he's either got something completely brilliant in mind, or something sarcastic, or both. "Have you ever heard of the Foundry?"
Litessen sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to regret whatever you're about to say, aren't I?"
"Well, you asked how I planned to go into a full on war against the Empire."
"I was trying to make a point."
"I know. I'm just worried for her."
"She's safe now, Deke'o. I'm more worried about why this Sith wanted her enough to pressure one of the richest men in the universe into selling her."
"I know, I know." He throws his hands up in surrender. "And that's really the question. What about Yen was so special? I mean, she's an amazing kid, probably my favorite in the Galaxy. Was there something about her force ability?"
"Nothing that sets her apart from any other force sensitive youth. And if he just wanted her for training, Makria would've spun it that way when he sat down with the family to explain the situation. Instead, he offered the mother the consolation that he would make sure that Yen's sisters would have the best positions he could give them in his household. To Yen, it was as if they were already mourning her death. She knew she was in terrible danger."
Deke'o clenches a fist, but doesn't have another outburst - yet. He thinks on it for several long moments, then shakes his head as if to drive the thoughts away, like they're in a place he doesn't even want to think about. He just looks at Litessen, waiting to see if she's got any insight into the situation.
"Yen met him. I have a description, at least, but no name. I can't go back to Makria, because it would confirm that I took her. Right now, all her safety rests in the details of her disappearance being as scarce as possible. All I have is her accounting of the meeting, and it was very brief."
"I could try my underworld contacts. Through an intermediary of course. I wouldn't risk my name being associated with it."
Litessen nods. "That might help." She falls silent for a thoughtful moment. "She said that when he approached her, she knew her death was waiting with him. I don't know if she realized she was force sensitive before that moment."
"As much as I don't want to, I could also try an old adversary in Imperial Intelligence. He owes me a favor, might be able to get us a name from the description. Maybe."
"It's a place to start. Thank you."
[This post is converted from a scene RP'd with player-Deke'o. Huge thanks to him for allowing me to use it and for his contribution to this story. I'm only ever as good as the people I have the privilege of RP'ing with, and he is, as always, a great friend.]
8/11/2013
Chrystopher Legacy Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past
Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past
Jheryth opened the bay doors on his fury class starship to reveal a small forest clearing. He slung a survival pack over his shoulder and turned to address his small crew, "Head to house Thul, you should be received well. Enjoy some time off. I shall contact you when it is time to leave." His crew nodded and made their way back to the cockpit. Jheryth stepped out into the forest, hearing the door hiss close and the thrusters warm up. He turned and watch his ship and crew take off.
He turned back to the clearing. He placed a hand on a hearty tree, like a friend gripping the hand of an old friend. He marveled at the strong brown bark, having a distaste of the Hydenock trees that Alderaan was famous for. He ran his hand along the bark, then rubbed the dirt into both hands.
His thoughts and emotions spun around in his head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowing down the personal onslaught he was feeling. Knowing it all must come to the surface, feel it all, put all his thoughts in their place.
He took another deep breath, centering himself, letting the forst fade away, his mind's eye pulling up the memory of his parents. He remembered how pleased they were when he was identified as force-sensitive, that a Chrystopher was to be trained as a Jedi. Jheryth's brow furrowed as the scene was replaced by the look on his parents faces when he returned from the Acadamy. Having to tell his parents that he was kicked out of the Academy. Their looks of disappointment, disdain, and rejection. Jheryth watched his former self, taking a few personal belongings and a survival pack, walking out without another word to his parents.
Jheryth opened his eyes, surveying the clearing, watching the shadows slowly creep across, heralding the coming nightfall. He set his pack down against an old log, the clearing having the look of a well-used campsite. He pulled out a few things from his pack, arranging a few cooking tools, sleeping bag, and a flint stone. He stood, looked around, and moved about the clearing, picking up some bits of wood and kindling. He thought back to the long walk from his parents estate, living off the forest, wandering for weeks, loosing all sense of time, until he found this very clearing. Without the slightest trace of civilization, he claimed this clearing as his own.
He made his way back to the campsite, set a fire going, then sat down on the sleeping bag, just starring into the fire, watching orange embers drift into the night. He couldn't fight the grin spreading across his lips as he thought of auburn hair and green eyes. He tried to recall any other woman he had been with, but no woman ever held his attention quite like she did. It was that hunger, that unbridled passion that matched his own, that first attracted him to her. Add on top of that, she was the property of a Sith Lord. The pursuit was too tantalizing to resist. He breathed in deeply, knowing the emoiton of defeat was surfacing again. No matter how much he thought he wanted her, she was not to be his. This Sith Lord was far stronger, and more cunning, beating him at every turn, taking every opportunity to humiliate him. In the end, another Sith convinced him that she just wasn't worth it. He let the thought of his first infatuation drift away with the winking embers.
"Aittera." He let her name roll off his lips. He remembered meeting her in one of the many cantinas on Nar Shadaa. He remembered knowing that he just had to go to that cantina that night. her wit, sharp banter, beautiful scarlet curls. A pull to this woman beyond anything physical. He just had to have her. Her name, her scent burned inside his chest. He had to hand it to her. She was really good at staying off of Imperial records. Standard inquiries got him no where, and it wasn't until their second meeting that he got her name, and so much more.
He sighed heavily, thinking back to his recent attack on an SIS station. He stood up suddenly, growling to himself. Disaster hardly described the results of that attack. Not only was it just a small surveillance station, monitoring some Hutt, but the computer server went no where. Not even a data link to slice. He gripped his hands into fists as he relived the battle inside the SIS station. The Force was with him. He defeated everyone inside. Not once had he let an enemy live. In every battle, there is victory. And the Force claims her spoils, and makes her champion stronger. So why did he let that Jedi leave with his life? He pressed his fists to his head, letting out an anguished scream.
Jheryth opened the bay doors on his fury class starship to reveal a small forest clearing. He slung a survival pack over his shoulder and turned to address his small crew, "Head to house Thul, you should be received well. Enjoy some time off. I shall contact you when it is time to leave." His crew nodded and made their way back to the cockpit. Jheryth stepped out into the forest, hearing the door hiss close and the thrusters warm up. He turned and watch his ship and crew take off.
He turned back to the clearing. He placed a hand on a hearty tree, like a friend gripping the hand of an old friend. He marveled at the strong brown bark, having a distaste of the Hydenock trees that Alderaan was famous for. He ran his hand along the bark, then rubbed the dirt into both hands.
His thoughts and emotions spun around in his head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowing down the personal onslaught he was feeling. Knowing it all must come to the surface, feel it all, put all his thoughts in their place.
He took another deep breath, centering himself, letting the forst fade away, his mind's eye pulling up the memory of his parents. He remembered how pleased they were when he was identified as force-sensitive, that a Chrystopher was to be trained as a Jedi. Jheryth's brow furrowed as the scene was replaced by the look on his parents faces when he returned from the Acadamy. Having to tell his parents that he was kicked out of the Academy. Their looks of disappointment, disdain, and rejection. Jheryth watched his former self, taking a few personal belongings and a survival pack, walking out without another word to his parents.
Jheryth opened his eyes, surveying the clearing, watching the shadows slowly creep across, heralding the coming nightfall. He set his pack down against an old log, the clearing having the look of a well-used campsite. He pulled out a few things from his pack, arranging a few cooking tools, sleeping bag, and a flint stone. He stood, looked around, and moved about the clearing, picking up some bits of wood and kindling. He thought back to the long walk from his parents estate, living off the forest, wandering for weeks, loosing all sense of time, until he found this very clearing. Without the slightest trace of civilization, he claimed this clearing as his own.
He made his way back to the campsite, set a fire going, then sat down on the sleeping bag, just starring into the fire, watching orange embers drift into the night. He couldn't fight the grin spreading across his lips as he thought of auburn hair and green eyes. He tried to recall any other woman he had been with, but no woman ever held his attention quite like she did. It was that hunger, that unbridled passion that matched his own, that first attracted him to her. Add on top of that, she was the property of a Sith Lord. The pursuit was too tantalizing to resist. He breathed in deeply, knowing the emoiton of defeat was surfacing again. No matter how much he thought he wanted her, she was not to be his. This Sith Lord was far stronger, and more cunning, beating him at every turn, taking every opportunity to humiliate him. In the end, another Sith convinced him that she just wasn't worth it. He let the thought of his first infatuation drift away with the winking embers.
"Aittera." He let her name roll off his lips. He remembered meeting her in one of the many cantinas on Nar Shadaa. He remembered knowing that he just had to go to that cantina that night. her wit, sharp banter, beautiful scarlet curls. A pull to this woman beyond anything physical. He just had to have her. Her name, her scent burned inside his chest. He had to hand it to her. She was really good at staying off of Imperial records. Standard inquiries got him no where, and it wasn't until their second meeting that he got her name, and so much more.
He sighed heavily, thinking back to his recent attack on an SIS station. He stood up suddenly, growling to himself. Disaster hardly described the results of that attack. Not only was it just a small surveillance station, monitoring some Hutt, but the computer server went no where. Not even a data link to slice. He gripped his hands into fists as he relived the battle inside the SIS station. The Force was with him. He defeated everyone inside. Not once had he let an enemy live. In every battle, there is victory. And the Force claims her spoils, and makes her champion stronger. So why did he let that Jedi leave with his life? He pressed his fists to his head, letting out an anguished scream.
8/08/2013
In Over Her Head, part 3
Terrakos stormed into the living room, shrugging off two female slaves still trying to keep his attention. Jalif Makria turned in surprise to the intrusion, the fear draining all color from his face as he tried to appear in control. "My lord Terrakos! I hope my staff is treating you well?"
Terrakos stood there, coldly regarding his host, "Makria, though your 'staff' are quite good at distraction, my patience grows thin. What news do you have about my property?"
Jalif turned to his wife, her terror more evident than his own, "My dear, would you.." As Jalik's wife began to stand, Terrakos raised his hand, sending out an arc of electricity, knocking her back down to the couch, "I think she can stay." He strode across the room, closing the distance between himself and his hosts, a sneer playing across his lips, "After all, you are married. You both are in this together."
Jalif straightened, putting forth a brave face, "M-mlord, the girl has escaped. It's possible she was aided by a Jedi."
Terrakos thrust his hand out toward the woman, sending arcs of electricity through her body as Jalif pleaded. Terrakos turned the voltage down, speaking to him while admiring the sight of the writhing woman, "I want all the data you have about this thief transferred to my ship."
"Of course my lord. P-p-please release my wife."
Terrakos narrowed his eyes as he mulled over his options. He knew Jalif had some dealings with the Republic. The electricity stopped flowing out of his hand, leaving the woman writhing in agony. He didn't need to make more enemies by killing Jalif's wife, not when he had a thief to hunt.
Still...
8/07/2013
Star Wars: The Old Republic Character List
Ebon Hawk Server
Republic Side
Litessen - Jedi Guardian. Nickname: Lita. Species: Mirialan.
Lita's compassionate, articulate, outspoken. She believes in the good in people and that a Jedi's primary function is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, not seeing them as weak, but as part of the Force that she serves. She believes in the ideals of the Republic, if not necessarily the law of it, realizing that a government is necessary for order and peace, but those laws do not take into account singular situations or individuals who may be an exception to the rule. In spite of having excellent diplomatic skills, she has a tendency in her own life to rush into things without taking her own safety into account. She flies with the "Maiden", a starship captained by her husband, Deke'o Starbreaker. She's also become known by her friends as a magnet for stray children who are often runaways and/or in danger.
Tal'rend - Jedi Sentinel. Qorian's padawan. Nickname: Tal. Species: Zabrak.
Tal's a handful. She's smart, strong in the force, and picks up new skills with gifted ease. She's also a bit incorrigible, pulls pranks, and likes to draw attention to herself. She's immature and impatient. A lot of this comes from her being double-babied by her mother, who was making up for losing her sister, Qel, before she was drawn into the Jedi training program at 7. Rambuncious.
Veeh'ra - Vanguard. Species: Cyborg.
Severe head trauma caused by crushing damage in a "training incident" (that wasn't her fault), so her entire skull had to be rebuilt. Cyborg tech was used to restore 100% of her motor functions and 75% of the rest of the damage to her brain. This made for a total personality change from the dedicated and good-natured soldier she used to be to a calculating, cold, fearless warrior without a moral compass. She follows her orders completely without regard to right or wrong. She is actually a better fighter than she was before the incident, the cybernetics enhancing her combat skills and abilities. She's blunt and sometimes crude. Her blaster rifle is named Jayne, and it is her most favorite piece of weaponry in the whole universe.
Katliss - Gunslinger. Nickname: Kat. Species: Human.
Having been Untruth's playmate for so long, she's brash, self-involved, cocky, and doesn't care what anyone thinks (with the exception of her brother, and even then, she likes to make him yell "Kat!" when she says something outrageous). She is loyal to her brother to a fault, and right now, he is the only person who can exact any kind of control over her.
Vesatta - Jedi Shadow. Species: Miraluka.
Having been raped while still in the Academy, Vesatta is quiet and shy. She never reported the experience, humiliated and ashamed by it. While she is confident that she is up to any task set before her, she doesn't allow anyone to truly "know" her. The Shadow path allows her to court the darkness without falling into it, but also makes her very vulnerable to the Dark side. Because of what happened, stealthy, mystical powers are much more appealing, keeping with the desire to keep her distance from people. Because of this background, she lacks some inter-personal skills, so she sometimes comes across as apathetic or blunt.
Lullia - Commando. Species: Twi'lek.
Basically a good person, honest, courageous. Soft-spoken, but friendly. Her family was rescued by a Jedi knight from the Empire when she was a child, prompting her to join the military, when she became old enough. She is trained as a field medic and as back-up for special forces ops.
Aittera - Scoundrel. Species: Human.
Former SIS agent. Disillusioned when she lost her partner in an op gone bad. Flying and freedom are now her top priorities and takes smuggling work to make that happen. Still, she has honor, loyalty, and her own sense of morality. She has a weakness for lost causes and dangerous men.
Lei'quii - Jedi Shadow. Nickname: Lei (pronounced "Lee"). Partner: Val'ros. Species: Human.
Former Jedi who was asked to leave when it was discovered that she had developed feelings for a Republic trooper and planned to marry him. Until she left, her belief system was very much in step with the teachings of the Order, though now, she's questioning those teachings and beliefs. In spite of all this, she's still loyal to the Council and the Republic. Has been partners with Val'ros since leaving the academy, where they sort of grew up together.
Tholata - Jedi Sentinel. Species: Cathar
Grew up on an Outer Rim planet where her village was attacked by Mandolorian raiders while she was still a young child, leaving her orphaned and on her own. A few years later, she caught the attention of a visiting Jedi knight, who gained her trust and took her to the Jedi academy. She's incredibly shy in social situations, and very curious.
Kel'ri - Gunslinger. Nickname: Blue. First mate: Harkyn. Species: Human.
Basically a good guy out to make a buck to keep flying. She's the reluctant hero - tends to make a stink about what doing the right thing costs her and her reputation, though she'll most alwys do the right thing in the end. She tends to be a bit cocky and wreckless like any good pilot should be.
Imperial Side
Kiabe'deth - Sith Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Kiabe is Sith and pureblood from one of the oldest family lines in the Imperial Empire. She is arrogant and cruel, having no interest in anything but her own advancement and crushing anyone who gets in her way. Married to Darth Ragious and has a son by him.
Qel'rend - Sith Sorceror. Nickname: Qel. Species: Zabrak. Zadakiel's apprentice.
Qel is self-confidant, but not arrogant. She spent most of her life as a slave, and she understands her place in the world, even now that she's been freed. She has placed herself into Zadakiel's care, because she believes that she can be as strong as he is one day, and that he will guide her. She has instinctively used pain to create and store power all her life. Because of this, she isn't the typical Sith in that, rage and hate are simply emotions others use to reach the power she so easily can draw into herself by this method. She guards her emotions carefully as a result, seeking true direction from the Dark side to make decisions in combat and social situations. Now that she has chosen a Master, she will not acknowledge anyone he considers beneath himself as having true power over her, unless he commands it. However, she's smart enough to hide her full potential from anyone who might take advantage of it.
Renn'a - Imperial Sniper. Nickname: Renn. Species: Cyborg.
The Empire is the penultimate bastion of power and order in an otherwise chaotic galaxy, so she will serve it with every fiber of her being. She takes her greatest pleasures from killing for the Empire, but will do any duty set forth before her without complaint. Lord Ragious took Renn'a as a 'pet' against her will, but she's since come to accept her position in his household, continuing to work for him and Imperial Intelligence.
Temivi - Sith Assassin. Agonar's apprentice. Species: Twi'lek.
As far as Temivi is concerned, she's earned her right to be free by surviving Sith training. She's outspoken about her opinions and sometimes doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. She is from an occupied world, and her parents were part of a slave labor force. She irritated the local authorities often by fighting for her community, even joining a rebellious group, and was arrested on minor charges several times. When she was chosen as a potential force weilder, her parents convinced her to go by making her swear to have a better life than they had, and she sends them credits secretly on occassion when she is able.
Riukii - Mercenary. Species: Cyborg.
When she was younger, Riukii joined the crew of the freighter Ridge's Dust and spent her first couple of years in a whirlwind/tempestuous relationship with its captain. When the relationship soured, the captain found his way into an 'incident' with a malfunctioning airlock and Riukii inherited the ship. She has something of a short attention span, avoiding long-term commitments of any kind, seeking to avoid ever letting her guard down again. In spite of this, she's friendly, accessible, and is even a bit of a flirt, eschewing the usual tough guy act that most mercenarys tend to project. Being a merc is just a job that keeps her from having to settle in one place and keeps her out of poverty or from having to depend on anyone. Loves her arsenal and equipment, because she likes the big boy toys.
Farell - Sith Juggernaut. Species: Zabrak.
Arrogant, defiant daughter of Darth Ragious. She's a total daddy's girl and resents her step-mother and step-brother, seeing them as detractors from her father's attention. She's smart, manipulative, and ruthless. She is constantly seeking out Ragious's approval, willing to do anything to get it.
Wa'seandee - Mercenary. Species: Chiss. Partner and husband: Nekama
Before Nekama's appearance in her life, everything was pretty simple - money buys freedom; kill someone before they can have a chance to kill you; be tougher than anyone you meet. Now, however, she's been known to show mercy and has designated herself Nekama's personal bodyguard. She still loves to blow shit up though.
Dels'taron - Sniper. Species: Chiss.
When she was young, there was a rebellious uprising on her homeworld. Imperial Intelligence recruited her to infiltrate this uprising to aid in quelling it. When the Imperial military stepped in to arrest the leaders of the uprising, one of the officers became involved in helping her become an Imperial agent and married her, primarily to have a beautiful young woman on his arm. His life has since come to an end at the hands of a Sith Lord who decided to take Dels for himself. She's adventurous, out-going, and ambitious, though she has a tendency to take unnecessary risks.
Somaesthesia - Assassin. Name: Jocelyn Arren. Species: Human.
When the spirit of a powerful Sith was unbound, it sought a suitable 'vessel' from its decendants' bloodline to occupy permanently, effectively giving herself a chance to live life again. She found a vessel in a force sensitive slave girl who was taken to Korriban. She's devious and calculating, having no true loyalty to anyone but herself and her family.
Azarey - Juggernaut. Species: Cathar.
Azarey was the strongest warrior in her village, having no idea that her speed and strength were natural gifts from the Force. While visiting the city near her home for supplies, she was attacked by a group of Mandolorians who overwhelmed her 5 to one. When she thought defeat was imminent, the Sith apprentice Agonar stepped in to rescue her, and she has sworn her life to serve him and the house of his master. She is loyal, fierce, fearless, and honorable.
Erlanne - Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Not quite all there, Erlanne sees herself as Vengeance personified. Because of her own paranoia and eratic nature, Erlanne is that quiet kind of crazy for the most part, and people generally dismiss what she says as Pureblood eccentricity.
Telkara - Mercenary. Species: Twi'lek.
Telkara grew up on an embattled world where her parents died fighting for freedom against Imperial forces. Now, she is wanted for connections to rebellious groups and trafficking arms. She hates the Empire, is idealistic and outspoken. She has a natural affinity with tech and a reputation for stealing ships.
Republic Side
Litessen - Jedi Guardian. Nickname: Lita. Species: Mirialan.
Lita's compassionate, articulate, outspoken. She believes in the good in people and that a Jedi's primary function is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, not seeing them as weak, but as part of the Force that she serves. She believes in the ideals of the Republic, if not necessarily the law of it, realizing that a government is necessary for order and peace, but those laws do not take into account singular situations or individuals who may be an exception to the rule. In spite of having excellent diplomatic skills, she has a tendency in her own life to rush into things without taking her own safety into account. She flies with the "Maiden", a starship captained by her husband, Deke'o Starbreaker. She's also become known by her friends as a magnet for stray children who are often runaways and/or in danger.
Tal'rend - Jedi Sentinel. Qorian's padawan. Nickname: Tal. Species: Zabrak.
Tal's a handful. She's smart, strong in the force, and picks up new skills with gifted ease. She's also a bit incorrigible, pulls pranks, and likes to draw attention to herself. She's immature and impatient. A lot of this comes from her being double-babied by her mother, who was making up for losing her sister, Qel, before she was drawn into the Jedi training program at 7. Rambuncious.
Veeh'ra - Vanguard. Species: Cyborg.
Severe head trauma caused by crushing damage in a "training incident" (that wasn't her fault), so her entire skull had to be rebuilt. Cyborg tech was used to restore 100% of her motor functions and 75% of the rest of the damage to her brain. This made for a total personality change from the dedicated and good-natured soldier she used to be to a calculating, cold, fearless warrior without a moral compass. She follows her orders completely without regard to right or wrong. She is actually a better fighter than she was before the incident, the cybernetics enhancing her combat skills and abilities. She's blunt and sometimes crude. Her blaster rifle is named Jayne, and it is her most favorite piece of weaponry in the whole universe.
Katliss - Gunslinger. Nickname: Kat. Species: Human.
Having been Untruth's playmate for so long, she's brash, self-involved, cocky, and doesn't care what anyone thinks (with the exception of her brother, and even then, she likes to make him yell "Kat!" when she says something outrageous). She is loyal to her brother to a fault, and right now, he is the only person who can exact any kind of control over her.
Vesatta - Jedi Shadow. Species: Miraluka.
Having been raped while still in the Academy, Vesatta is quiet and shy. She never reported the experience, humiliated and ashamed by it. While she is confident that she is up to any task set before her, she doesn't allow anyone to truly "know" her. The Shadow path allows her to court the darkness without falling into it, but also makes her very vulnerable to the Dark side. Because of what happened, stealthy, mystical powers are much more appealing, keeping with the desire to keep her distance from people. Because of this background, she lacks some inter-personal skills, so she sometimes comes across as apathetic or blunt.
Lullia - Commando. Species: Twi'lek.
Basically a good person, honest, courageous. Soft-spoken, but friendly. Her family was rescued by a Jedi knight from the Empire when she was a child, prompting her to join the military, when she became old enough. She is trained as a field medic and as back-up for special forces ops.
Aittera - Scoundrel. Species: Human.
Former SIS agent. Disillusioned when she lost her partner in an op gone bad. Flying and freedom are now her top priorities and takes smuggling work to make that happen. Still, she has honor, loyalty, and her own sense of morality. She has a weakness for lost causes and dangerous men.
Lei'quii - Jedi Shadow. Nickname: Lei (pronounced "Lee"). Partner: Val'ros. Species: Human.
Former Jedi who was asked to leave when it was discovered that she had developed feelings for a Republic trooper and planned to marry him. Until she left, her belief system was very much in step with the teachings of the Order, though now, she's questioning those teachings and beliefs. In spite of all this, she's still loyal to the Council and the Republic. Has been partners with Val'ros since leaving the academy, where they sort of grew up together.
Tholata - Jedi Sentinel. Species: Cathar
Grew up on an Outer Rim planet where her village was attacked by Mandolorian raiders while she was still a young child, leaving her orphaned and on her own. A few years later, she caught the attention of a visiting Jedi knight, who gained her trust and took her to the Jedi academy. She's incredibly shy in social situations, and very curious.
Kel'ri - Gunslinger. Nickname: Blue. First mate: Harkyn. Species: Human.
Basically a good guy out to make a buck to keep flying. She's the reluctant hero - tends to make a stink about what doing the right thing costs her and her reputation, though she'll most alwys do the right thing in the end. She tends to be a bit cocky and wreckless like any good pilot should be.
Imperial Side
Kiabe'deth - Sith Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Kiabe is Sith and pureblood from one of the oldest family lines in the Imperial Empire. She is arrogant and cruel, having no interest in anything but her own advancement and crushing anyone who gets in her way. Married to Darth Ragious and has a son by him.
Qel'rend - Sith Sorceror. Nickname: Qel. Species: Zabrak. Zadakiel's apprentice.
Qel is self-confidant, but not arrogant. She spent most of her life as a slave, and she understands her place in the world, even now that she's been freed. She has placed herself into Zadakiel's care, because she believes that she can be as strong as he is one day, and that he will guide her. She has instinctively used pain to create and store power all her life. Because of this, she isn't the typical Sith in that, rage and hate are simply emotions others use to reach the power she so easily can draw into herself by this method. She guards her emotions carefully as a result, seeking true direction from the Dark side to make decisions in combat and social situations. Now that she has chosen a Master, she will not acknowledge anyone he considers beneath himself as having true power over her, unless he commands it. However, she's smart enough to hide her full potential from anyone who might take advantage of it.
Renn'a - Imperial Sniper. Nickname: Renn. Species: Cyborg.
The Empire is the penultimate bastion of power and order in an otherwise chaotic galaxy, so she will serve it with every fiber of her being. She takes her greatest pleasures from killing for the Empire, but will do any duty set forth before her without complaint. Lord Ragious took Renn'a as a 'pet' against her will, but she's since come to accept her position in his household, continuing to work for him and Imperial Intelligence.
Temivi - Sith Assassin. Agonar's apprentice. Species: Twi'lek.
As far as Temivi is concerned, she's earned her right to be free by surviving Sith training. She's outspoken about her opinions and sometimes doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. She is from an occupied world, and her parents were part of a slave labor force. She irritated the local authorities often by fighting for her community, even joining a rebellious group, and was arrested on minor charges several times. When she was chosen as a potential force weilder, her parents convinced her to go by making her swear to have a better life than they had, and she sends them credits secretly on occassion when she is able.
Riukii - Mercenary. Species: Cyborg.
When she was younger, Riukii joined the crew of the freighter Ridge's Dust and spent her first couple of years in a whirlwind/tempestuous relationship with its captain. When the relationship soured, the captain found his way into an 'incident' with a malfunctioning airlock and Riukii inherited the ship. She has something of a short attention span, avoiding long-term commitments of any kind, seeking to avoid ever letting her guard down again. In spite of this, she's friendly, accessible, and is even a bit of a flirt, eschewing the usual tough guy act that most mercenarys tend to project. Being a merc is just a job that keeps her from having to settle in one place and keeps her out of poverty or from having to depend on anyone. Loves her arsenal and equipment, because she likes the big boy toys.
Farell - Sith Juggernaut. Species: Zabrak.
Arrogant, defiant daughter of Darth Ragious. She's a total daddy's girl and resents her step-mother and step-brother, seeing them as detractors from her father's attention. She's smart, manipulative, and ruthless. She is constantly seeking out Ragious's approval, willing to do anything to get it.
Wa'seandee - Mercenary. Species: Chiss. Partner and husband: Nekama
Before Nekama's appearance in her life, everything was pretty simple - money buys freedom; kill someone before they can have a chance to kill you; be tougher than anyone you meet. Now, however, she's been known to show mercy and has designated herself Nekama's personal bodyguard. She still loves to blow shit up though.
Dels'taron - Sniper. Species: Chiss.
When she was young, there was a rebellious uprising on her homeworld. Imperial Intelligence recruited her to infiltrate this uprising to aid in quelling it. When the Imperial military stepped in to arrest the leaders of the uprising, one of the officers became involved in helping her become an Imperial agent and married her, primarily to have a beautiful young woman on his arm. His life has since come to an end at the hands of a Sith Lord who decided to take Dels for himself. She's adventurous, out-going, and ambitious, though she has a tendency to take unnecessary risks.
Somaesthesia - Assassin. Name: Jocelyn Arren. Species: Human.
When the spirit of a powerful Sith was unbound, it sought a suitable 'vessel' from its decendants' bloodline to occupy permanently, effectively giving herself a chance to live life again. She found a vessel in a force sensitive slave girl who was taken to Korriban. She's devious and calculating, having no true loyalty to anyone but herself and her family.
Azarey - Juggernaut. Species: Cathar.
Azarey was the strongest warrior in her village, having no idea that her speed and strength were natural gifts from the Force. While visiting the city near her home for supplies, she was attacked by a group of Mandolorians who overwhelmed her 5 to one. When she thought defeat was imminent, the Sith apprentice Agonar stepped in to rescue her, and she has sworn her life to serve him and the house of his master. She is loyal, fierce, fearless, and honorable.
Erlanne - Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Not quite all there, Erlanne sees herself as Vengeance personified. Because of her own paranoia and eratic nature, Erlanne is that quiet kind of crazy for the most part, and people generally dismiss what she says as Pureblood eccentricity.
Telkara - Mercenary. Species: Twi'lek.
Telkara grew up on an embattled world where her parents died fighting for freedom against Imperial forces. Now, she is wanted for connections to rebellious groups and trafficking arms. She hates the Empire, is idealistic and outspoken. She has a natural affinity with tech and a reputation for stealing ships.
7/29/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd
Nar Shadaa. Though not a forest, it was a good hunting ground for other pursuits. Imagine Jheryth's surprise when he noticed a Jedi doing a bad job of skulking into an abandoned warehouse in the industrial sector of Nar Shadaa. He had his crew scout the place, and discovered that it is highly likely to be an SIS outpost. If there was any place to find the information he needed, an SIS database would be a gold mine.
He pulled out his old Jedi robes, setting his look in meticulous order, donning his old attire like an old hat. He walked with purpose to the warehouse, striding in through the front door past two sentries posted on either side of the door. The looked at him as he passed, uncertain but holding their position.
He was halfway across the the warehouse, having a clear view of the main room, along with a a couple of operatives sitting at makeshift desks, between Jheryth and the control room doors. Jheryth cleared most of the expanse of discarded boxes, and that's when he noticed the young Jedi picking at a piece of thread on her robe, sitting on a box near one of the desks.
Her head snapped up, her brown eyes opening wide in realization of what he was. Jheryth force jumped to the furthest guard, drawing his sabre in mid-flight, igniting the blade as he landed, running the guard through. Following the flow he already set up in his mind moments before, reached out with the Force and pulled the other guard off his feet and flung him into the blade of a fork-lift in the corner, before the young padawan even ignited her blade.
He smiled at her, noting the determined look on her face, as well as the gripping fear she was feeling. He stalked her, moving slowly around the desk, blocking one of the boxes she lifted off the floor and hurled at him. Jheryth smiled as he cut through another box thrown at him. The girl had strength, but obviously no real combat training.
He feinted to one side, watched her take the bait as he sidestepped her swing, moving in under her defense, pulling her to him with one hand as he thrust his saber through her chest, staring into her eyes as her defeat registered, her plea voiceless on her lips as she went limp in his arms.
Jheryth laid her down gently, turning as he heard the hiss of a smoke bomb, and a few blaster shots, heralding the entrance of his associates. Aven stepped over the downed sentries, making his way to Jheryth at a quick walk, "Communications have been neutralized, but secondary security systems are still online, my lord."
Jheryth growled as he tried the control panel buttons, getting no response. He tapped his ear comm, "Decker, can you get these doors open?" A female voice answered, "I think....um...yeah, um...no.The penthouse suite is not open today." Growling, he stood there, drawing in the Force, focusing on the doors, willing his anger and passion for the information he desired pull on the door, willing it out of it's secured position.
With the doors groaning against his onslaught, they suddenly flew open, a Jedi flying out at him with a flurry of sabre swings. Jheryth reacted with the instincts of the Force, blocking each one. Jheryth grinned as he reacted, trading block for block, cut for cut, enjoying the feel of this Jedi as he can sense the emotional turmoil coming from him. Jheryth reveled every moment of it, admiring the Jedi's skill, and the moment he was searching for came.
Jheryth moved to the side, the Jedi's swing barely missing him, as he got into his space, around his arm, bringing his sabre up and cutting through the Jedi's sabre hilt, the sabre sparking, spinning to deliver an elbow to his face, knocking the Jedi down, standing over him, the killing blow poised at his neck.
And then Jheryth heard it. It was barely perceptible, and louder than an avalanche. A heartbeat, not his own.
He stood there, looking down on the fallen Jedi, his own master drifting intangibly in a corner, telling him to finish him. His thumb moved, the sabre's blade winking out. The fallen Jedi looked quickly from Jheryth to the other companion's shocked faces, scurried to his feet and out the door.
"My lord, are you alright?" Jheryth barely registered Aven's question, too busy staring down at his own trembling hands. Taking stock of the situation, he was aware of his breath coming in ragged waves. He closed his hands into fists, knuckles showing white, to keep them from shaking, "FIND HER! I want that data file NOW!"
He pulled out his old Jedi robes, setting his look in meticulous order, donning his old attire like an old hat. He walked with purpose to the warehouse, striding in through the front door past two sentries posted on either side of the door. The looked at him as he passed, uncertain but holding their position.
He was halfway across the the warehouse, having a clear view of the main room, along with a a couple of operatives sitting at makeshift desks, between Jheryth and the control room doors. Jheryth cleared most of the expanse of discarded boxes, and that's when he noticed the young Jedi picking at a piece of thread on her robe, sitting on a box near one of the desks.
Her head snapped up, her brown eyes opening wide in realization of what he was. Jheryth force jumped to the furthest guard, drawing his sabre in mid-flight, igniting the blade as he landed, running the guard through. Following the flow he already set up in his mind moments before, reached out with the Force and pulled the other guard off his feet and flung him into the blade of a fork-lift in the corner, before the young padawan even ignited her blade.
He smiled at her, noting the determined look on her face, as well as the gripping fear she was feeling. He stalked her, moving slowly around the desk, blocking one of the boxes she lifted off the floor and hurled at him. Jheryth smiled as he cut through another box thrown at him. The girl had strength, but obviously no real combat training.
He feinted to one side, watched her take the bait as he sidestepped her swing, moving in under her defense, pulling her to him with one hand as he thrust his saber through her chest, staring into her eyes as her defeat registered, her plea voiceless on her lips as she went limp in his arms.
Jheryth laid her down gently, turning as he heard the hiss of a smoke bomb, and a few blaster shots, heralding the entrance of his associates. Aven stepped over the downed sentries, making his way to Jheryth at a quick walk, "Communications have been neutralized, but secondary security systems are still online, my lord."
Jheryth growled as he tried the control panel buttons, getting no response. He tapped his ear comm, "Decker, can you get these doors open?" A female voice answered, "I think....um...yeah, um...no.The penthouse suite is not open today." Growling, he stood there, drawing in the Force, focusing on the doors, willing his anger and passion for the information he desired pull on the door, willing it out of it's secured position.
With the doors groaning against his onslaught, they suddenly flew open, a Jedi flying out at him with a flurry of sabre swings. Jheryth reacted with the instincts of the Force, blocking each one. Jheryth grinned as he reacted, trading block for block, cut for cut, enjoying the feel of this Jedi as he can sense the emotional turmoil coming from him. Jheryth reveled every moment of it, admiring the Jedi's skill, and the moment he was searching for came.
Jheryth moved to the side, the Jedi's swing barely missing him, as he got into his space, around his arm, bringing his sabre up and cutting through the Jedi's sabre hilt, the sabre sparking, spinning to deliver an elbow to his face, knocking the Jedi down, standing over him, the killing blow poised at his neck.
And then Jheryth heard it. It was barely perceptible, and louder than an avalanche. A heartbeat, not his own.
He stood there, looking down on the fallen Jedi, his own master drifting intangibly in a corner, telling him to finish him. His thumb moved, the sabre's blade winking out. The fallen Jedi looked quickly from Jheryth to the other companion's shocked faces, scurried to his feet and out the door.
"My lord, are you alright?" Jheryth barely registered Aven's question, too busy staring down at his own trembling hands. Taking stock of the situation, he was aware of his breath coming in ragged waves. He closed his hands into fists, knuckles showing white, to keep them from shaking, "FIND HER! I want that data file NOW!"
7/28/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd
Ping, ping, ping.
Aittera sat in the corner of the Devious Hope's medbay, watching Selus sleep in the kolto tank. She'd tried to go to bed, but somehow, laying there in silence was worse than the faint, consistent beeping of the monitor that tracked his life signs.
Ping, ping, ping.
In four years of service to the Republic in SIS, she never once disobeyed a direct order. Hell, for that matter, she'd never taken a life out of vengeance or even anger. She'd been an effective enough assassin when the assignment called for it, but she'd believed that she was working for the greater good. Before tonight, she would have thought it impossible and absurd to think that she could just take a life in cold blood.
And now, it hung in the air around her in silent accusation, punctuated by the soft, steady tones of the monitor.
She pulled her knees up and folded her arms atop them to let her head drop against them as tears welled up in her eyes again, the fight playing once more through her mind. She'd heard Rasos's order. She stepped forward to use the handle of her blaster to knock the Sith out.
And then, she saw Selus's body in the snow. Ping, ping, ping.
Denial had been her armor and practically her way of life for so long, it might have continued to come easily enough in that moment for her to complete their assignment. Why didn't it? Just a few more minutes of that false sense of emotional fortitude that convinced her that she felt nothing more than friendship and gratitude for the idiot who'd refused to let her run away.
Ping, ping, ping.
While she'd expected Rasos's anger and a swift boot out of UI, what really delivered the cold smack of reality was the accusation that she and Selus were together. Faced with the truth of the feelings she'd been firmly in denial of, with the evidence of her actions staring her in the face, she couldn't deny it further. She couldn't even find words to argue.
Ping, ping, ping.
He'd been right. And now, she was forced out of the safe haven of her denial and into this vulnerable, bright light of reality. She could no longer cling to the love she had for a man who's death she'd never faced.
Ping, ping, ping.
When Selus had tracked her to the cantina on that little rinky dink moon, he'd said he knew she was a runner the moment he met her. He'd been right. She'd been running since the day Davin Vael died. Even then, she had the opportunity to act in vengeance and kill her CO, but she didn't have it in her, no matter how angry she was or how much she believed he was solely responsible for the death of her fiancee and two other extremely competent agents. She'd just left, disillusioned with the agency that had been her home for as long as she cared to remember. She wanted to be dead with her partner and lover. Instead, she ran.
Ping, ping, ping.
In fact, there was a part of her that was whispering, even as she spilt tear after tear born of guilt and regret, that it would be easy to just go to the bridge and plot a course for some place far away from Universal Investigations and this colossal screw-up. It was like a little siren song that promised a new descent into denial with all the alcohol necessary to forget everything.
Ping, ping, ping.
Aittera sat in the corner of the Devious Hope's medbay, watching Selus sleep in the kolto tank. She'd tried to go to bed, but somehow, laying there in silence was worse than the faint, consistent beeping of the monitor that tracked his life signs.
Ping, ping, ping.
In four years of service to the Republic in SIS, she never once disobeyed a direct order. Hell, for that matter, she'd never taken a life out of vengeance or even anger. She'd been an effective enough assassin when the assignment called for it, but she'd believed that she was working for the greater good. Before tonight, she would have thought it impossible and absurd to think that she could just take a life in cold blood.
And now, it hung in the air around her in silent accusation, punctuated by the soft, steady tones of the monitor.
She pulled her knees up and folded her arms atop them to let her head drop against them as tears welled up in her eyes again, the fight playing once more through her mind. She'd heard Rasos's order. She stepped forward to use the handle of her blaster to knock the Sith out.
And then, she saw Selus's body in the snow. Ping, ping, ping.
Denial had been her armor and practically her way of life for so long, it might have continued to come easily enough in that moment for her to complete their assignment. Why didn't it? Just a few more minutes of that false sense of emotional fortitude that convinced her that she felt nothing more than friendship and gratitude for the idiot who'd refused to let her run away.
Ping, ping, ping.
While she'd expected Rasos's anger and a swift boot out of UI, what really delivered the cold smack of reality was the accusation that she and Selus were together. Faced with the truth of the feelings she'd been firmly in denial of, with the evidence of her actions staring her in the face, she couldn't deny it further. She couldn't even find words to argue.
Ping, ping, ping.
He'd been right. And now, she was forced out of the safe haven of her denial and into this vulnerable, bright light of reality. She could no longer cling to the love she had for a man who's death she'd never faced.
Ping, ping, ping.
When Selus had tracked her to the cantina on that little rinky dink moon, he'd said he knew she was a runner the moment he met her. He'd been right. She'd been running since the day Davin Vael died. Even then, she had the opportunity to act in vengeance and kill her CO, but she didn't have it in her, no matter how angry she was or how much she believed he was solely responsible for the death of her fiancee and two other extremely competent agents. She'd just left, disillusioned with the agency that had been her home for as long as she cared to remember. She wanted to be dead with her partner and lover. Instead, she ran.
Ping, ping, ping.
In fact, there was a part of her that was whispering, even as she spilt tear after tear born of guilt and regret, that it would be easy to just go to the bridge and plot a course for some place far away from Universal Investigations and this colossal screw-up. It was like a little siren song that promised a new descent into denial with all the alcohol necessary to forget everything.
Ping, ping, ping.
7/26/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, part 2
Jheryth opened his eyes calmly and sat up in bed, the covers sliding down his bare chest to pool in his lap. He cocked his head slightly, feeling out with the force. Nothing stood out at him. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He looked at the clock on his nightstand, glaring at him a time some 3 hours before daybreak. Something woke him up. He could not sense any reason for it and sighed. Disappointing he thought to himself, as recalling the last thing he remembered before waking up was 'her'.
The image of her face, the scent of her body, the feel of her against him, was all he could think about. He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly and took stock of his emotions. He shrugged his shoulders, and releasing yet another breath, threw the covers off and swung his feet off the bed, placing them on the soft rug that spread out from under his bed. He knew, with her image now fixed in his mind, sleep was no longer going to happen today.
He made his way to the closet, pulling out his mediation robe and padded across the floor, through his bedroom and into his meditation room. He set about the meticulous placement of incense, music and kneeling mat. He brushed his robe outward, allowing him mobility to sit down, breathing in the serenity.
"Power is Knowledge, Knowledge has no sides.
Without emotion, there is emptiness.
Without passion, there is no life.
There is no death, there is only the Force.
In battle, there is the Force.
While I am worthy, defeating my enemies gives me strength.
May I be defeated by hands more worthy than my own."
The image of her face, the scent of her body, the feel of her against him, was all he could think about. He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly and took stock of his emotions. He shrugged his shoulders, and releasing yet another breath, threw the covers off and swung his feet off the bed, placing them on the soft rug that spread out from under his bed. He knew, with her image now fixed in his mind, sleep was no longer going to happen today.
He made his way to the closet, pulling out his mediation robe and padded across the floor, through his bedroom and into his meditation room. He set about the meticulous placement of incense, music and kneeling mat. He brushed his robe outward, allowing him mobility to sit down, breathing in the serenity.
"Power is Knowledge, Knowledge has no sides.
Without emotion, there is emptiness.
Without passion, there is no life.
There is no death, there is only the Force.
In battle, there is the Force.
While I am worthy, defeating my enemies gives me strength.
May I be defeated by hands more worthy than my own."
7/25/2013
Picking Up the Pieces...
"Damnit, Brixen, they're still in there!"
Aittera was sitting up in the bed in her quarters on the Devious Hope, her breaths coming in rapid succession as her vision cleared and the nightmare faded away. The protocol droid was standing in the doorway, and it took her a moment to realize she must have shouted in her sleep about the same time she realized her head was throbbing. With a groan, she winced and fell back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What?" she snapped at the droid, a little more irritated than she meant it.
"Master Selus instructed me to administer this," the droid patiently explained. "It is a hangover remedy." She lifted one eyelid very, very carefully until she could see the steaming cup in C2-X4's hand.
"I'm fine," she responded, waving him away. "Just get me something for a headache." The droid didn't move.
"Master Selus instructed me to tell you that if you refuse, I am to contact him to return immediately to - forgive me, Master - force it down your throat." The tremor in the droid's metallic voice would have made her laugh under other circumstances.
"Fine!" She sat up again and held her hand out toward it, and the droid crossed the room to place the cup in her hand. "What'd I tell you about calling me master, you annoying piece of tin?"
"My apologies, Captain Badass."
"When is Selus expected back?" Even with a hangover, the droid's answer struck her as satisfyingly funny.
"Some time this evening, Captain Badass."
"Good. Now, go away." She brought the rim of the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip as X4 left her room and the door slid shut behind it. The concoction was surprisingly sweet in spite of its foul odor, and she nursed it for a few more minutes.
Gingerly, she pulled the covers back and swung her feet over the side of the bed, but the 'remedy' was already doing its work as the expected wave of nausea didn't come. She took another drink from the cup before setting it down on the side table and slipped off of the bed to her knees, turning to bend down and look beneath it. She reached for a floor panel a little further under the bed and pressed it down on one side until the opposite side rose enough to slip a finger beneath and remove it.
The strongbox waiting within lifted out easily, and she drew back to sit cross-legged on the floor with it in her lap, tapping in the security code and pressing her thumb to the identification screen. Once it popped open, she reached in to withdraw a small rectangular wallet and set it aside on the table next to the cup.
Once the strongbox was returned to its hiding place, she stood and walked over to the retractable sink to splash some water on her face, fending off the last remnants of sleep and the dream that came with it. The memories of her fiancee's last moments of life hung in the air around her like a thick fog, and she indulged just a few moments of reflection.
She'd managed to banish the nightmare of those final few minutes before, but the dreams had returned more vividly than ever.
It was Selus's fault, she told herself. He'd shown up in a little out of the way cantina she'd been resting (...hiding...) in. In the brief firefight with two bounty hunters that had tracked her to the cantina, she and Selus had acted in perfect synchronization as though they were merely extensions of each other. They were so connected in that moment, no longer individuals, and...
She let the thought die there. That was the moment she'd committed the ultimate sin - she'd forgotten that Davin Vael had ever existed. The dreams were her punishment. She'd promised to love him forever, and for that one careless moment, she'd forgotten her fiancee had ever existed.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the sink back into its retracted position and walked over to the bedside table to pick up the wallet. At least one loose end from her subsequent drinking binge could be dealt with. The last thing she needed hanging over her was a Sith Lord's interest, whatever that interest turned out to be.
At the desk, she opened the wallet and withdrew an identification chip that she inserted into the computer. In minutes, she was finished with her message to Rasos, detailing everything that she knew about Jheryth Chrystopher. It really wasn't much. That was the whole point, of course. If she'd been able to do this on her own, she'd have never sought out Universal Investigations in the first place.
She was glad she had, though. Between keeping her busy with work and giving her new acquaintances and allies, she felt almost like a normal person living a reasonably normal life. The proverbial spy that came in from the cold. How cliche.
Aittera was sitting up in the bed in her quarters on the Devious Hope, her breaths coming in rapid succession as her vision cleared and the nightmare faded away. The protocol droid was standing in the doorway, and it took her a moment to realize she must have shouted in her sleep about the same time she realized her head was throbbing. With a groan, she winced and fell back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What?" she snapped at the droid, a little more irritated than she meant it.
"Master Selus instructed me to administer this," the droid patiently explained. "It is a hangover remedy." She lifted one eyelid very, very carefully until she could see the steaming cup in C2-X4's hand.
"I'm fine," she responded, waving him away. "Just get me something for a headache." The droid didn't move.
"Master Selus instructed me to tell you that if you refuse, I am to contact him to return immediately to - forgive me, Master - force it down your throat." The tremor in the droid's metallic voice would have made her laugh under other circumstances.
"Fine!" She sat up again and held her hand out toward it, and the droid crossed the room to place the cup in her hand. "What'd I tell you about calling me master, you annoying piece of tin?"
"My apologies, Captain Badass."
"When is Selus expected back?" Even with a hangover, the droid's answer struck her as satisfyingly funny.
"Some time this evening, Captain Badass."
"Good. Now, go away." She brought the rim of the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip as X4 left her room and the door slid shut behind it. The concoction was surprisingly sweet in spite of its foul odor, and she nursed it for a few more minutes.
Gingerly, she pulled the covers back and swung her feet over the side of the bed, but the 'remedy' was already doing its work as the expected wave of nausea didn't come. She took another drink from the cup before setting it down on the side table and slipped off of the bed to her knees, turning to bend down and look beneath it. She reached for a floor panel a little further under the bed and pressed it down on one side until the opposite side rose enough to slip a finger beneath and remove it.
The strongbox waiting within lifted out easily, and she drew back to sit cross-legged on the floor with it in her lap, tapping in the security code and pressing her thumb to the identification screen. Once it popped open, she reached in to withdraw a small rectangular wallet and set it aside on the table next to the cup.
Once the strongbox was returned to its hiding place, she stood and walked over to the retractable sink to splash some water on her face, fending off the last remnants of sleep and the dream that came with it. The memories of her fiancee's last moments of life hung in the air around her like a thick fog, and she indulged just a few moments of reflection.
She'd managed to banish the nightmare of those final few minutes before, but the dreams had returned more vividly than ever.
It was Selus's fault, she told herself. He'd shown up in a little out of the way cantina she'd been resting (...hiding...) in. In the brief firefight with two bounty hunters that had tracked her to the cantina, she and Selus had acted in perfect synchronization as though they were merely extensions of each other. They were so connected in that moment, no longer individuals, and...
She let the thought die there. That was the moment she'd committed the ultimate sin - she'd forgotten that Davin Vael had ever existed. The dreams were her punishment. She'd promised to love him forever, and for that one careless moment, she'd forgotten her fiancee had ever existed.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the sink back into its retracted position and walked over to the bedside table to pick up the wallet. At least one loose end from her subsequent drinking binge could be dealt with. The last thing she needed hanging over her was a Sith Lord's interest, whatever that interest turned out to be.
At the desk, she opened the wallet and withdrew an identification chip that she inserted into the computer. In minutes, she was finished with her message to Rasos, detailing everything that she knew about Jheryth Chrystopher. It really wasn't much. That was the whole point, of course. If she'd been able to do this on her own, she'd have never sought out Universal Investigations in the first place.
She was glad she had, though. Between keeping her busy with work and giving her new acquaintances and allies, she felt almost like a normal person living a reasonably normal life. The proverbial spy that came in from the cold. How cliche.
7/12/2013
Overheard in a little Coruscant cafe
"It's not that I'm not grateful," the blue-haired rogue reiterated for what must have been the 15th time since the conversation had begun. "And yes, I owe you for that situation back on Ord Mantell--" She was cut off by the calm, even voice of the Mirialan sitting across the table from her.
"As much as you paint yourself the defiant, hardened criminal, we both know that the worst of your so-called crimes involve running supplies into warzones that keep the local civilians from starving." The Jedi was looking at her with the kind of reproachful smile that reminded Kel'ri of the way her mother used to look at her when she lied about sneaking out of the house to avoid her studies.
"Hey! There were banned items in those shipments," Kel'ri countered with a cocky grin. "People may need to eat, but the real credits in those runs came from alcohol."
"Which they used to trade with the local Republic troops for medical supplies and a host of other things? You won't even run weapons unless you're sure they're getting into the right hands." Lita wasn't letting her off the hook.
Kel'ri relented with a raised hand. "Fine! Fine. It's not like there isn't an upside to going legit. And you were right about the company, I guess. Everyone I've met so far seems..." she smirked playfully in pseudo-dramatic pause before finishing, "...like they've had their shots."
The Mirialan gave her a knowing grin. Since their friendship began a few years ago, Lita's uncanny ability to read people and inspire their best character traits had somehow grown on the smuggler. Kel'ri liked to tease the Jedi about her habit of 'picking up strays', but the truth was that she had been one of those strays. If it hadn't been for Lita's guidance, she probably would've fallen in with one of the gangs on Nar Shaddaa or worse, been strong-armed into some aspect of the pleasure industries that the smuggler's moon was notorious for.
"I still don't see how I can keep an eye on the kid, though," Kel'ri continued, getting back to the subject at hand. "She's on Coruscant at school most of the time, and you know I hate sitting around planetside on a Core World with nothing to do. What if I'm out on a run when they give her a job, and I can't get there to hold her hand?"
"She hardly requires hand-holding, but I do see your point." Lita conceded with a thoughtful nod. "The Council is extremely reluctant to pursue her Force training any further for now, but I've been considering finding a Jedi who might be able to take her as their padawan."
"Why not you?" The question seemed obvious, but Lita shook her head.
"She is already attached to me emotionally in such a way that I fear it would defeat the purpose," she explained. "When I found Tholata, she'd been living on her own for so long that gaining her trust so that she'd allow me to help her was not easy. I feel that she still sees me as a substitute for the family she lost, and the person to change that dynamic between us should be her - when she's ready."
Kel'ri picked at her plate while her friend spoke, then shrugged with a smart-assed smirk. "You lost me somewhere around 'purpose'. I think you don't take on padawans, because it would get in the way of your love life. How is life on The Maiden with Captain Dreamboat?"
The rest of lunch consisted of the usual banter between old friends; Kel'ri teasing her friend about what she insisted must be a sordid, hot affair with the captain she travelled with while Litessen countered by teasing right back about Kel'ri's short attention span for men and women alike. They parted with the usual promises to stay in touch and to get together again soon, as well as the less sincere promises to stay out of trouble. Neither of them ever could keep that promise.
"As much as you paint yourself the defiant, hardened criminal, we both know that the worst of your so-called crimes involve running supplies into warzones that keep the local civilians from starving." The Jedi was looking at her with the kind of reproachful smile that reminded Kel'ri of the way her mother used to look at her when she lied about sneaking out of the house to avoid her studies.
"Hey! There were banned items in those shipments," Kel'ri countered with a cocky grin. "People may need to eat, but the real credits in those runs came from alcohol."
"Which they used to trade with the local Republic troops for medical supplies and a host of other things? You won't even run weapons unless you're sure they're getting into the right hands." Lita wasn't letting her off the hook.
Kel'ri relented with a raised hand. "Fine! Fine. It's not like there isn't an upside to going legit. And you were right about the company, I guess. Everyone I've met so far seems..." she smirked playfully in pseudo-dramatic pause before finishing, "...like they've had their shots."
The Mirialan gave her a knowing grin. Since their friendship began a few years ago, Lita's uncanny ability to read people and inspire their best character traits had somehow grown on the smuggler. Kel'ri liked to tease the Jedi about her habit of 'picking up strays', but the truth was that she had been one of those strays. If it hadn't been for Lita's guidance, she probably would've fallen in with one of the gangs on Nar Shaddaa or worse, been strong-armed into some aspect of the pleasure industries that the smuggler's moon was notorious for.
"I still don't see how I can keep an eye on the kid, though," Kel'ri continued, getting back to the subject at hand. "She's on Coruscant at school most of the time, and you know I hate sitting around planetside on a Core World with nothing to do. What if I'm out on a run when they give her a job, and I can't get there to hold her hand?"
"She hardly requires hand-holding, but I do see your point." Lita conceded with a thoughtful nod. "The Council is extremely reluctant to pursue her Force training any further for now, but I've been considering finding a Jedi who might be able to take her as their padawan."
"Why not you?" The question seemed obvious, but Lita shook her head.
"She is already attached to me emotionally in such a way that I fear it would defeat the purpose," she explained. "When I found Tholata, she'd been living on her own for so long that gaining her trust so that she'd allow me to help her was not easy. I feel that she still sees me as a substitute for the family she lost, and the person to change that dynamic between us should be her - when she's ready."
Kel'ri picked at her plate while her friend spoke, then shrugged with a smart-assed smirk. "You lost me somewhere around 'purpose'. I think you don't take on padawans, because it would get in the way of your love life. How is life on The Maiden with Captain Dreamboat?"
The rest of lunch consisted of the usual banter between old friends; Kel'ri teasing her friend about what she insisted must be a sordid, hot affair with the captain she travelled with while Litessen countered by teasing right back about Kel'ri's short attention span for men and women alike. They parted with the usual promises to stay in touch and to get together again soon, as well as the less sincere promises to stay out of trouble. Neither of them ever could keep that promise.
3/08/2013
In Over Her Head, part 2
Captain Deke’o Starbreaker watched the green skinned Jedi run off to collect the young girl from the safe house she’d stashed her. He felt bad using both her and the young girl as bait, but he knew that the Bounty Hunter she’d ditched had likely already tracked her here to Taris, and he wasn’t going to take a chance of him catching Lita in a situation he couldn’t control. Grabbing his stealth field generator, he started off after her, climbing up to a rooftop and using the close proximity of the buildings in the settlement to watch her back for any tails. It wasn’t long before he saw his target. Not that mercenaries were out of place on Taris, it was when they took a particular interest in a Jedi (especially HIS Jedi) without looking like they were taking one, that he got a little defensive. After he started outright following Lita, he knew this must be her new friend.
He watched him watch his girlfriend as she ducked in and out of alleyways, her tradecraft was good, and he began to wonder if she’d been mentored by one of his former colleagues at SIS. Still the Bounty Hunter kept up with her, and when she stopped and ducked into a building, he took up an ambush position in an alleyway she’d have to pass through on her way back to the spaceport. Deke’o knew it was time to make his move. Silently across the rooftop overlooking the alley, he activated his stealth generator and peered over the side. Taking cover against the crenellation, he removed one of his silent explosive probes from his belt and dropped it over the edge, letting it hover a few feet above the bounty hunter before he shot it with his blaster, and dropped a flashbang as he leapt over the side. Quickly hitting the emergency reactivation on his stealth generator as he pulled his Scattergun off his back, he took no chances, firing a shot straight at the Bounty Hunter’s back before he could recover from the flashbang’s effect. It was enough to put him on the ground as Deke’o kicked at the pistol from his hand, knocking it away down the alley, his own sidearm drawn on the Bounty Hunter’s face.
“You really should have cut your losses when you didn’t capture her in space.”
“What do you care, Republic scum? You’re going to regret ambushing me, when my employer tells his Sith client you kept me from retrieving his property, they’re going to hunt you down and make you wish for death.”
Deke’o couldn’t help but laugh as he brought the scattergun around, he aimed for the Bounty Hunter’s wrist and fired, severing the hand. Talking above the cursing screams of the Bounty Hunter, he kept a smile on his face, “Wrong. Your employer is going to die at the Sith’s hands for failure, a fate you’re likely to share when you come back from this trip empty handed.” Realizing the hilarity of what he’d just said, he started laughing again as he put a stun bolt into the Hunter and dragged him behind some crates.
He’d be out for a while, and with some luck, wouldn’t bleed to death from losing his hand. Even if he did, Deke’o was past caring. His message would be delivered either way. Walking out of the alley as Lita exited the nearby building with the girl, he moved toward them and greeted both with a friendly wave. The little girl, recognizing him from the holo waved back with a smile. Coming up to next to them, he knelt down and pulled a piece of hard candy from his belt, he held it out for the girl who took it with a thank you. Holding his hand out for hers, he started back for his ship to take both Mirialans away from Taris.
(Thanks to the player of Deke'o for writing this)
2/13/2013
In Over Her Head
Litessen stood just outside the airlock entry, leaning casually against the wall as though she really had nothing better to do. The space station's current time cycle was the least busy, simulating what would be considered late night on planetside - if there'd been any planet nearby to simulate.
It's current placement was as much part of the diplomatic meetings it had just finished hosting, and while most participants of those meetings were scheduled to leave in the next time cycle - the 'morning' time cycle - she was among the few who had already gained clearance to leave early, citing the need to rendevous with a frigate that would be passing near enough to pick up her short range shuttle to take her to her next destination. The lower ring was nearly deserted right now, so she'd barely even seen a passing guard, much less any non-personel, until the small figure of a female slipped quietly into view.
Litessen regarded the young Mirialan with a tentative, but encouraging smile and nodded. That was all it took, and the girl dashed up to her after one last wary look further down the corridor, slipping into the airlock when the Jedi's violet eyes slid that direction. With one last glance behind, she followed the girl onto the shuttle and waved the door closed before pointing down to the waiting astromech droid.
"It's okay," she encouraged the girl. "He's going to remove your collar. Just pull your hair out of the way."
In moments, it was done, and Litessen opened the door long enough to place the collar just outside of it. When the shuttle detached, the slave collar would be blown into space, and with luck, far enough away that exactly which airlock it had come from would at least take time to figure out.
---------------------------------------
The first volley of fire was clearly a warning as it soared across the bow of the shuttle, bouncing off the shields. Startled from dozing, Litessen became fully alert, her fingers moving across the controls in front of the captain's chair. "D5, what's going on?"
She'd never been much of a pilot, and it showed in how much she relied on the astromech droid to run things. The short range shuttle she'd aquired had adequate defenses, but it wouldn't withstand much in full on combat. The answering chirps that came with the readout were low and nervous, and she nodded in answer as she pulled up the daunting image of a small, heavily armored starship.
Muttering a curse beneath her breath, she pulled up an astrochart. "Don't bother putting him through on the com. I know what he wants, and there's no way I'm going to--" she broke off as an idea came to her. "D5, I'm going to start typing instructions to you through my wristpad. Put the bounty hunter through, voice only, and ease your way toward that gas cloud."
The droid chirped a correction that elicited a roll of her eyes. "Whatever it's made of. It'll mess with readings a little, won't it?"
As the droid chirped his answer, she jumped out of the chair and headed into the back of the shuttle where her passenger was hunkering in a corner with wide, terrified pale eyes. Lifting a finger to her lips, Lita signalled for the girl to remain quiet as she moved to her side, and the click of the intercom signalled the connection to their pursuer's transmission.
**Shuttle Vigilance, kill your engines and prepare to be boarded.**
Lita pulled the girl up to her feet and led her toward the only escape hatch. The shuttle shuddered as D5 finished altering course and diverting everything the little vessel had to shields and navigation. She regretted leaving the droid behind and hoped he managed to somehow survive as she answered the com with a calm, clear tone. "This is The Vigilance. You have no authority here. What is this about?"
**This is about your unauthorized removal of Jalif Makria's property from the space station last night, Jedi. No one needs to get hurt here. Just let me dock and retrieve it, and you can be on your way.**
She triggered the door open and helped the trembling girl into the tiny space. "You're mistaken. The only property I arrived and left with was my own. Now, cease and leave, or I will file a complaint against you and Makria with the Republic. I imagine that would make all the progress we made during negotiations evaporate and eat into the profits he stands to make."
She was bluffing. The negotiations had resulted in a lucrative deal for Jalif Makria, to be sure, but that deal was more important to the Republic government than the theft of a slave girl. She couldn't risk the Republic learning of what she'd done anymore than she could risk being found out and...well, chased by a bounty hunter, apparently.
**Have it your way, Jedi.**
The channel cut off, and Lita knew time was running out. Hopefully, she'd bought them enough time to reach the nebulous clouds for her planned ruse to work. She secured the hatch and smiled reassuringly at the young girl just before the child flung herself into the woman's lap. Wrapping her arms around the girl, she soothed her while she tapped the final instructions for D5 into her wristpad.
The shuttle banked hard and shook as the bounty hunter's ship fired on it once again, seeking to disable it rather than destroy it. Her eyes remained on the readout on her wristpad as the droid reported back to her and the girl clung tighter. Shields disabled. One more shot would take out the engine and leave them vulnerable to boarding.
"One more time, and we'll be on our way," Lita cooed in a soothing voice to the terrified youth.
Another, more violent shudder told her the volley had begun, and before the shuttle rolled dangerously onto its side, the escape pod was already blown free amidst the debris from the shot, hurtling toward Taris. Now, if only D5 could keep the bounty hunter too busy to notice...
It's current placement was as much part of the diplomatic meetings it had just finished hosting, and while most participants of those meetings were scheduled to leave in the next time cycle - the 'morning' time cycle - she was among the few who had already gained clearance to leave early, citing the need to rendevous with a frigate that would be passing near enough to pick up her short range shuttle to take her to her next destination. The lower ring was nearly deserted right now, so she'd barely even seen a passing guard, much less any non-personel, until the small figure of a female slipped quietly into view.
Litessen regarded the young Mirialan with a tentative, but encouraging smile and nodded. That was all it took, and the girl dashed up to her after one last wary look further down the corridor, slipping into the airlock when the Jedi's violet eyes slid that direction. With one last glance behind, she followed the girl onto the shuttle and waved the door closed before pointing down to the waiting astromech droid.
"It's okay," she encouraged the girl. "He's going to remove your collar. Just pull your hair out of the way."
In moments, it was done, and Litessen opened the door long enough to place the collar just outside of it. When the shuttle detached, the slave collar would be blown into space, and with luck, far enough away that exactly which airlock it had come from would at least take time to figure out.
---------------------------------------
The first volley of fire was clearly a warning as it soared across the bow of the shuttle, bouncing off the shields. Startled from dozing, Litessen became fully alert, her fingers moving across the controls in front of the captain's chair. "D5, what's going on?"
She'd never been much of a pilot, and it showed in how much she relied on the astromech droid to run things. The short range shuttle she'd aquired had adequate defenses, but it wouldn't withstand much in full on combat. The answering chirps that came with the readout were low and nervous, and she nodded in answer as she pulled up the daunting image of a small, heavily armored starship.
Muttering a curse beneath her breath, she pulled up an astrochart. "Don't bother putting him through on the com. I know what he wants, and there's no way I'm going to--" she broke off as an idea came to her. "D5, I'm going to start typing instructions to you through my wristpad. Put the bounty hunter through, voice only, and ease your way toward that gas cloud."
The droid chirped a correction that elicited a roll of her eyes. "Whatever it's made of. It'll mess with readings a little, won't it?"
As the droid chirped his answer, she jumped out of the chair and headed into the back of the shuttle where her passenger was hunkering in a corner with wide, terrified pale eyes. Lifting a finger to her lips, Lita signalled for the girl to remain quiet as she moved to her side, and the click of the intercom signalled the connection to their pursuer's transmission.
**Shuttle Vigilance, kill your engines and prepare to be boarded.**
Lita pulled the girl up to her feet and led her toward the only escape hatch. The shuttle shuddered as D5 finished altering course and diverting everything the little vessel had to shields and navigation. She regretted leaving the droid behind and hoped he managed to somehow survive as she answered the com with a calm, clear tone. "This is The Vigilance. You have no authority here. What is this about?"
**This is about your unauthorized removal of Jalif Makria's property from the space station last night, Jedi. No one needs to get hurt here. Just let me dock and retrieve it, and you can be on your way.**
She triggered the door open and helped the trembling girl into the tiny space. "You're mistaken. The only property I arrived and left with was my own. Now, cease and leave, or I will file a complaint against you and Makria with the Republic. I imagine that would make all the progress we made during negotiations evaporate and eat into the profits he stands to make."
She was bluffing. The negotiations had resulted in a lucrative deal for Jalif Makria, to be sure, but that deal was more important to the Republic government than the theft of a slave girl. She couldn't risk the Republic learning of what she'd done anymore than she could risk being found out and...well, chased by a bounty hunter, apparently.
**Have it your way, Jedi.**
The channel cut off, and Lita knew time was running out. Hopefully, she'd bought them enough time to reach the nebulous clouds for her planned ruse to work. She secured the hatch and smiled reassuringly at the young girl just before the child flung herself into the woman's lap. Wrapping her arms around the girl, she soothed her while she tapped the final instructions for D5 into her wristpad.
The shuttle banked hard and shook as the bounty hunter's ship fired on it once again, seeking to disable it rather than destroy it. Her eyes remained on the readout on her wristpad as the droid reported back to her and the girl clung tighter. Shields disabled. One more shot would take out the engine and leave them vulnerable to boarding.
"One more time, and we'll be on our way," Lita cooed in a soothing voice to the terrified youth.
Another, more violent shudder told her the volley had begun, and before the shuttle rolled dangerously onto its side, the escape pod was already blown free amidst the debris from the shot, hurtling toward Taris. Now, if only D5 could keep the bounty hunter too busy to notice...
1/10/2013
Freedom
"And what do you have to say?" Vibrant yellow eyes fixed on the dark red pureblood male with a long, beaded facial tentacle hanging on either side of his pursed lips, the distinctive ridges above his brow crinkled and all the more striking now in the years since his short, bristle-black hair had stopped growing in. "Will you stand up to her for once in your pathetic, weak-willed farce of a marriage?"
The elder Sith's pale red eyes flashed as they met his daughter's intense gaze, but he said nothing. Of course, he doesn't, Kiabe thought. As long as his testicles were the trophies of the woman to whom she now returned her attention to, he would never dare to move against her, even on his own daughter's behalf.
Lord Ragious had watched the mother of his bride to be balk at the prospect of her daughter marrying a human, and the thought made him seethe. If Kiabe hadn't made it clear that she wanted to handle this in her own way the old witch would be missing her head already. He stood leaning against the wall in the main parlor of his fiancé’s opulent family estate. He stared daggers at the witch as Kiabe spun on her father, his hand hovering over his lightsaber, ready to come to her aid should he be needed.
The lightsaber that hummed to life first, however, belonged to the matriarch with one authoritative word - "ENOUGH". In a moment, she'd leapt to her daughter's side, holding the gleaming yellow-black blade not at her throat, but at a point just ahead of her midsection, and glared at Kiabe's father threateningly. "Yes, husband. Stand up and tell me if you think this -" spitting the word as though referring to vermin "- filth is worthy of the one offspring I deemed worthy to survive your futile attempts to elicit an heir!"
Lord Krellian was finally prompted to his feet, his own double-bladed saber in hand and actived. As he took a step toward his wife, her grasp on Kiabe tightened, and he hesitated with the realization that no matter how quickly he lashed out, she would make good on a threat she'd obviously made long ago. Shame overcame his face as his true weakness was exposed in such a small gesture, and he averted his gaze from them both.
The air crackled with force energy, leaving the feeling as if the living force had been ripped asunder. In the next instant Lord Ragious was behind both Kiabe and her mother, his violet lightsaber ignited and moving through the neck of the older Sith. Without even a moment to scream before the blade severed her head, the woman collapsed as his feet. Still seething with rage that a lightsaber had been anywhere near not only his lover, but also his unborn child, and sustaining himself on pure adrenaline after channeling so much of his strength into Force Travelling, he turned his anger toward Lord Krellian. "Well old man? I believe you were asked a question."
Kiabe had barely had time to react to anything. One moment, her focus had been on her father - the one person in her childhood she'd learned would disappoint her at every turn - and then, it'd been on the exchange between her parents. She finally understood everything. She knew that the woman at her feet very likely hadn't been her mother at all and that her father's failure to protect her from the resultant torment made a lifetime of perceived betrayal all that much worse. In her rage, she closed the distance between herself and Krellian so quickly that his response to her future husband became his final words...
"Through your victory, her chains are broken."
The elder Sith's pale red eyes flashed as they met his daughter's intense gaze, but he said nothing. Of course, he doesn't, Kiabe thought. As long as his testicles were the trophies of the woman to whom she now returned her attention to, he would never dare to move against her, even on his own daughter's behalf.
Lord Ragious had watched the mother of his bride to be balk at the prospect of her daughter marrying a human, and the thought made him seethe. If Kiabe hadn't made it clear that she wanted to handle this in her own way the old witch would be missing her head already. He stood leaning against the wall in the main parlor of his fiancé’s opulent family estate. He stared daggers at the witch as Kiabe spun on her father, his hand hovering over his lightsaber, ready to come to her aid should he be needed.
The lightsaber that hummed to life first, however, belonged to the matriarch with one authoritative word - "ENOUGH". In a moment, she'd leapt to her daughter's side, holding the gleaming yellow-black blade not at her throat, but at a point just ahead of her midsection, and glared at Kiabe's father threateningly. "Yes, husband. Stand up and tell me if you think this -" spitting the word as though referring to vermin "- filth is worthy of the one offspring I deemed worthy to survive your futile attempts to elicit an heir!"
Lord Krellian was finally prompted to his feet, his own double-bladed saber in hand and actived. As he took a step toward his wife, her grasp on Kiabe tightened, and he hesitated with the realization that no matter how quickly he lashed out, she would make good on a threat she'd obviously made long ago. Shame overcame his face as his true weakness was exposed in such a small gesture, and he averted his gaze from them both.
The air crackled with force energy, leaving the feeling as if the living force had been ripped asunder. In the next instant Lord Ragious was behind both Kiabe and her mother, his violet lightsaber ignited and moving through the neck of the older Sith. Without even a moment to scream before the blade severed her head, the woman collapsed as his feet. Still seething with rage that a lightsaber had been anywhere near not only his lover, but also his unborn child, and sustaining himself on pure adrenaline after channeling so much of his strength into Force Travelling, he turned his anger toward Lord Krellian. "Well old man? I believe you were asked a question."
Kiabe had barely had time to react to anything. One moment, her focus had been on her father - the one person in her childhood she'd learned would disappoint her at every turn - and then, it'd been on the exchange between her parents. She finally understood everything. She knew that the woman at her feet very likely hadn't been her mother at all and that her father's failure to protect her from the resultant torment made a lifetime of perceived betrayal all that much worse. In her rage, she closed the distance between herself and Krellian so quickly that his response to her future husband became his final words...
"Through your victory, her chains are broken."
11/28/2012
Temivi finds a Master
(( This was actually written by Derek. I created Temivi to be Ragious's apprentice, partly inspired by a discarded earlier version of this piece, so he re-wrote it specifically for her. ))
It was not his easiest task to endure.
Not that he wasn’t good at Sith politicking, it just wasn’t what
interested him. But here he found himself in a room with roughly a
dozen other Lords, all set to watch a group of recruits that had yet
to entice a master on their own. It was their last chance; failure
at this juncture meant certain death. One by one they came to stand
in the center of the room, and had their record of deeds while at the
academy read to the assembled Lords. Most of the Lords were done up
in their finest garments for this tradition, and carried a look of
seriousness, like this was a most important task they were
undertaking, and they were very proud to be here.
Lord Ragious on the other hand sat
looking generally bored. In his plain purple robes, he looked more
like he belonged in the center of the room pleading to become
someone’s apprentice than to be seated amongst the other lords in
their finery. He knew his own reputation, mostly because he’d
carefully crafted it for years now, since he himself entered the
academy. He was viewed as a brute, something sent when direct force
needed to be applied. The truth war that he was as cunning as any
Sith, and quite enjoyed outsmarting those that underestimated him.
He was not ready to take on an apprentice that might detract from
that image, and especially not one chosen amongst this trial.
So one at a time he watched them come
into the chamber, a Human, then another, both taken by Lords he
didn’t recognize. Then a Pureblood, which surprised them, they
generally don’t make it to this step, then he saw the slave brands
and realized why. That one wasn’t so lucky, having his head taken
when he proved unable to convince anyone to take him as an
apprentice. A Miraluka was next, and her exotic beauty almost
stirred the large Sith to speaking, not because he thought she’d
make a good apprentice for him, but because he physically desired
her. There was something submissive about her, in the way she hung
her head (in truth, they all did, usually in shame for not having
enticed someone sooner), and in the way she knelt instead of stood.
Another Lord spoke up though, one whose own master was a rival of his
Master’s, and he wasn’t about to fight a proxy battle on
Korriban. So he let it go, and watched, as more and more came
through, generally tuning it out, until the final Acolyte was
announced.
Striding to stand in the center of the
chamber with a defiant posture was a Twi’lek, her blue skin marking
her as a Rutian. She was by all definitions of the word beautiful.
So much so that Ragious actually stood from his seat to stare at her,
his grey eyes boring into her as he listened to the announcement of
her actions at the academy. The moment the overseer finished his
announcement he spoke up, “This one will be coming with me.”
The room actually became hushed at
hearing him speak, and it was a lone Sith that dared break the
silence. “I must object, Lord Ragious is not one qualified to
train our future Sith in anything but how to lick a real master’s
boots.”
Ragious turned on the speaker, his face
a picture of rage marking the exact origin of his chosen name. “And
I suppose you, Lord Corten, would be a better master then? A former
slave, aren’t you? Wouldn’t you be much better at licking boots
than a someone who was BORN a Sith?” He knew that the subject of
his early years was a sore spot for the Lord, and that he had done as
much as he could to hide that truth, but Ragious had been at the
academy with the man, he remembered him as a meek student who relied
on riding the coattails of others to pass through it. He also
remembered how angry he got when his past was brought up during a
training session, and so knew how much having it brought out for the
entire assembled council, and their new apprentices would affect him.
With a snap hiss the former slave’s Lightsaber came to life, the
crimson blade held high as he leapt from his seat toward the larger
Sith standing with the apprentice.
Ragious was no amateur duelist though,
his own saber called to his hand with the Force as its blue blade
extended, the color a result of a gem taken from his first Jedi kill,
he raised it to deflect the incoming attack as his other hand
extended toward the Twi’lek, shoving her into the seat that Ragious
had previously occupied. To his credit Lord Corten fought like a
Sith, full of fury and rage, but Ragious was a student of war, and
his art was death. The battle was short, and ended with the former
slave turned Lord’s head rolling across the floor. Deactivating
his saber, Ragious turned first to the Acolyte in his seat, offering
her a dark smile, and then to the assembled Lords, “I’ll be happy
to hear any other objections now.”
When none came he motioned for the
Twi’lek to follow him as he stalked out of the chamber.
Personnel File: Qel'rend
Race: Zabrak
Assumed Age: 17
Occupation/Skill Set: Sith Sorceror. Diplomacy. Investigation and research. Some slicing capability. Ability to keep a cool head in any situation.
Known Connections: Apprentice to Lord Zadakiel Physical Description: 5'4, dark green eyes rimmed with red that seldom betray emotion, short red hair Personality: Self-confident, but not arrogant. Respectful of those she deems deserves her respect. Guards her true emotions carefully.
Biography: No information available before she first arrived for training as a Sith. Even the referring party's name has been removed from public and private records. Qel's training was accelerated despite her instructors' concerns that she is not of Sith birthright or blood, as well as their efforts to inhibit her advancement. She impressed (and continues to impress) those who looked beyond her race and recognized a natural affinity with the Force. She resides on Lord Zadakiel's ship, but can often be found in the Seekers' archives when researching or out on errands for her master or herself.
5/16/2012
All Hell Breaks Loose, Part Three
Dechs Kaison strolls through the thin
crowd to find a place at the bar of Decent, turning his back and
leaning against it while he casts a lazy glance around the room. Jade
was either here or on his way, and Dechs would need to spot him
immediately.
Reprieve sends one of the serving
girls over with a flick of his wrist and a point so that he can keep
doing the inventory.
As the girl approaches Dechs, he
makes a slight shake of his head to send her away, his eyes behind
mirrored glasses still sifting through the crowd. No time for
distractions. Not yet.
Reprieve nods his head to the techno
beat as a gorgeous redhead takes the stage. He finishes up his
inventory and hands it over to the girl standing next to him, the
look in her eyes pleading for him to "please notice me so I can
get a promotion.” He smiles at her, and sends her to make the
orders, turning to take note of who is in the club.
Jade wandered into the club, walking
up to the bar, taking in the familiar surroundings, nodding to the
two at the bar, “Hello Stacy, Ari.”
Stacy smiles. "Hello Mr.
Chrystopher. Nice to see you again."
Jade flashed her a charming smile,
“Likewise.”
Reprieve discreetly motions to Dechs
when Jade walks in, "Hello Jade, it's been quite a while."
Jade turned his attention back to
Ari, “Yes it has. I've been away on business.”
Stacy slides by Ari without touching
him, a slight frown on her face. Gone forever, except if Dani was
dancing so of course when he does come in, he gets in the way and
checks up behind her. Irritating man.
Reprieve nods, "And you've had
some work done, I could swear you look younger than the last time I
saw you."
Reprieve leans forward on the counter
to talk to Jade, and let Stacy pass
Stacy makes a rusty nail and slides
it to Dechs. He had seemed so sensible at their first meeting but
then he'd let his head get turned it seemed. Magic was a pain in the
ass. Anybody with any sense would stay far away from it. It seemed
Dechs lacked sense after all.
Jade returned Ari’s question with a
neutral smile, “I hope business has been good?”
Reprieve laughed. "Very good."
Jade nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
Dechs Kaison turned around to face
Stacy, "Thank you, Stacy. Nice to see you remember."
Stacy smiled "I try. I hope
things are good for you tonight?"
Dechs nodded and took a sip from his
drink, casting his gaze back towards the middle of the room.
Stacy busied herself with busy work
while she listened in as best she could. Nightclubs sucked for
eavesdropping but her lip reading skills weren't too shabby.
Reprieve pointed over his shoulder to
a poster with Dani and her work schedule. "Have you seen her
yet? She's the most amazing dancer I've ever had on that stage."
Jade glanced over to the poster, “Not
yet. I shall keep it in mind.”
Reprieve flashed him a grin, "Just
don't ogle my wife too hard."
“You? Married? When did that
happen?” Jade blurted out, incredulous.
Stacy paused for a moment...then cut
a lime really hard. Damn him. Damn him all to hell.
“A few weeks ago. We kept it quiet,
and private.”
Jade chuckled. “I'll be sure to
send a present by.”
Reprieve flashed him that grin again,
teasing. "And I'll be sure to have the detection and diffusion
spells ready."
Jade shrugged his shoulders, “Really?
I have the utmost respect for the institution of marriage. Just have
no interest in doing so myself.”
Dechs Kaison polished off his first
drink, sliding the glass back towards Stacy, "You sure got
dolled up tonight."
Stacy finished that bowl of limes and
wiped the counter. "Everything else was dirty." She grinned
at him as she put the bowl in the cold well.
Jade flashed her another charming
smile. “You should see her when she wants to go all out.”
She flashed that megawatt grin at
Jade. She didn't know him too well but hey, he had money and maybe a
partial interest in Descent. Maybe. The damn title lines on this
place were a mess. She made a mental note to see the lawyers about
exactly how the place was divided and who held what.
Reprieve smiled. "I didn't think
I would be doing so again, but the right girl can change any man’s
mind."
Stacy looked up at Jade. "Two
times this week. Now granted I make awesome drinks but I'm betting
it's the dancers you're coming by to see, hmm?" She winked.
Jade smiled back at Stacy, responding
to Ari. “I have yet to meet a woman that could do that.”
He turned his attention back to
Dechs, studying the unfamiliar man. “I don’t believe we’ve
met.”
Dechs Kaison looked over at Jade,
then nodded and gave a faint tip of his fedora. "Name's Dechs.
Did I hear your name was Jade, correctly?"
Reprieve nodded. "Dechs Kaison,
Jade Chrystopher. Jade, Dechs."
Jade nodded to Dechs. “That is
correct. Procurer of the rare and difficult to find.”
Jade pulled a card out from his
breast pocket, with his name and a symbol of an emerald, holding it
out to Dechs.
Dechs took the card, smiling at the
man’s proclaimed title. "Oh? I'll have to keep you in mind
next time I need something."
Jade nodded again, flashing his usual
charming grin. “Please do. I come highly recommended.”
Stacy started on some lemons,
focusing on her work or seeming too. She eased closer to the
conversation.
Dechs tucked Jade’s card away into
an inside pocket, then began fishing for something in another,
“Perhaps I can return a favor. I run a hospital and research
facility for anyone ... more than human.”
Reprieve walked down toward Stacy and
whispered, "Why are you doing something any of the other girls
can do?"
Olivia Chrystopher suddenly appeared
behind Jade, her demeanor enough to alert anyone who knew her that
she was not quite in her right mind. Her eyes were alight from
within, burning with a deep green fire, and she had a twisted,
maniacal grin on her face. Casually, she lifted a hand to seemingly
'push' at the air between them, throwing him bodily into the wall
across from her as she sneered, "Hello, Daddy."
Damn the man! Here she was trying to
be subtle and here he comes to loom over her! She whispered " Go
away! " She was about to say more when all hell broke loose. She
whirled and hit a few buttons on a hidden panel, herding the staff
towards the offices and safety with a few shooing motions. "Offices
people, let's get a move on!”
Dechs tried to react as fast as he
could, flicking the business card that he was getting ready for Jade
towards Olivia’s face, and took quick steps towards Jade. "Get
down!"
The casting of magic instantly
attracted Jade’s attention, using years of instinct to put up a
prepared instant shield. The shield flashed with the impact of
energy, but not enough as he found himself lifting off his feet,
flying into the wall behind him.
Reprieve abruptly felt Olivia's
presence as the alarms inside Descent started to go off, several
sections with security barriers dropping to keep customers safe as
hidden exits open for them. He hopped the bar as he began to speak a
binding spell directed at Olivia.
Jade picked himself up, looking
bewildered. "Olivia?"
Bodies were flying but the staff was
evacuating smoothly when Jade suddenly hit the wall, blocking Stacy's
exit. Luckily she was bringing up the rear and so the only one in any
danger. She cursed and looked for a way out.
Dechs got between Olivia and Jade,
closing his eyes while he said, "I’m going to have to ask you
to calm down."
Reprieve motioned with his hand for
Stacy to get down.
She frowned at him but she sort of
did what he asked. He was right, in this type of fight she was way
outclassed. Still, she, summoned what she called her pet and started
moving away from Jade.
Jade teleported to the other side of
the counter, getting out of Stacy's way.
Olivia's own shields easily deflected
the card tossed toward her face and absorbed Reprieve's spell as she
strode toward Jade angrily. "All those times I didn't -please-
you by showing any ability to do what you could do..."
Stacy couldn't help the relieved
smile that broke out as Jade teleported out of her way. She
immediately tried to sneak to the stairs.
Reprieve cursed under his breath and
started to speak another spell.
Jade laughed, his eyes igniting with
fire of their own. “Please me? I thought I taught you how to throw
a better spell than that!”
Dechs grabbed Jade by the collar and
tried to drag him back enough to stand between the two again. Staring
him dead in the eye, he said curtly, "You, get out. There's more
behind this than you know."
Olivia murmured a few arcane words
meant to melt Jade's defenses away and add his power to her own. "And
how disappointing I was when you had to let me go into the Fortunata
program! Let's not forget that!"
Jade looked at Dechs, green
electricity arcing across his eyes, as thrust his arm out toward
Dechs, releasing a blast of force with it. "This is a family
matter!"
Dechs drifted yards back as the bolt
hit, falling to a knee. "No it's not. Something else is at play
here! You need to trust me, and there's no time!" He then turned
his attention to the door as a large robot bearing the Kaison logo
inscribed within a Spade came lumbering in. He mumbled under his
breath, “Couldn’t have gotten here a moment sooner...”
Jade sneered at Olivia. “And yet,
here you are, still smaller than me.”
Olivia sent a stream of green energy
directly at Jade's chest after Dechs was out of the way with the
intention of pushing him back again, this time causing pain as well.
"Am I too much like my mother? What did you DO to her, hmm?
Where is she buried?"
Jade shook his head to clear it,
growling back, “She left because of YOU!”
The invisible shield around Jade
flashed again, sending Jade back into the bar, stunned by the
strength of the attack.
Dechs closed his eyes for just a
moment, the robot behind Olivia raising its right arm and firing a
plasma blast at her back while Dechs shouted, "Hey, Gooky! I
know you're in there..."
Reprieve finished his spoken spell as
the air began to burn around Olivia with Arcane energy, arcs of
mystical lightning encircling Ari's fists as he fights to get her
attention.
Stacy frowned mightily. Lightning
meant at the very least electrical repairs and at the worst, a bar
fire. She thought really hard about getting another job. Something
without meta class humans hanging around all day. Reprieve knew she
wouldn't make the millions she was making at Descent elsewhere.
Stacy could have sworn Ari was
reading her mind from the look on his face. He knew money was her
weakness, she knew it was her desire. She made more money than she'd
ever made in her life here but she also knew it would still roll in
from here no matter where she worked. After all she owned part of
it.
Olivia's protective spells were
enough to handle one, but not both attacks, and the energy that hit
her in the back caused her to stumble a few steps forward. She turned
her attention toward Ari, glaring at him. "You want to help, my
dear? It's growing up on HIS overprotective little island that's made
me so wary of people like YOU and Derek! I can't trust any of you,
really, and it's because he---"
Jade started to utter arcane words,
drawing energy around himself, moving his hands in quick, well
practiced motions, pulling the bar free from it's anchor with
invisible hands, hovering it overhead.
Dechs passed his glances from Jade to
Olivia and back to Jade, then the wide eyed look of 'Oh shit' flashed
across his face for just an instant as he realizes what is really
going on.
Olivia looked up at the bar and used
that 'pushing' motion to toss it back. "Not now, Daddy.
Adults are talking.”
As soon as Stacy saw Jade rip the bar
up into the air, she shrieked, "Not my bar! It's real teak
wood!"
Jade redirected his attention to the
robot behind Olivia, willing it off it's feet and toward her.
Reprieve conjured a protective
barrier between Oliva and where Jade and Dechs were standing. "I
see this for what it is, Olivia. You're juiced up on power that isn't
yours. You've -never- been a match for me before."
The large robot teetered once to
avoid the pull, but failed and started sliding towards Olivia. Dechs
shouted, “Damnit Spade, smack her while you're there!” As he
blinked, the robot took a haphazard swing while Jade pulled it into
range of the sorceress.
Reprieve began to throw attacks at
Olivia, to distract her as he silently weaved separate binding spells
for each ankle and wrist.
With Olivia’s attentions on
everyone else, the robot slammed into her back, catching her by
surprise. She finally moved from where she was obviously a sitting
duck - into the robot's second haphazard attack – and was knocked
to the floor momentarily. "I'M BETTER THAN ALL OF YOU! I don't
get caught up in your petty bullshit!"
Stacy stood frozen. In her head she
was running a mental tally of the cost of repairs so far. A very
large tally. With extra thrown in for mental anguish. Olivia's words
made her lose count. Money is petty? No, money's never. Dirty
sometimes but never petty. Oh wait, Olivia wasn't talking about
money.
Dechs smirked, mostly to himself, as
a pair of smaller robots arrived to help him, these bearing the
corporation logo inscribed within a heart.
Reprieve glared daggers at Jade as he
changed the protective barrier, constricting it as it flies toward
Jade like a net, directing his voice at Dechs. "Jade's starting
to feel like her. Keep him busy while I see about stopping her."
Reprieve turned and yelled at Stacy,
"My office. Box from Sabine, go get it."
Jade drew more energy to himself, the
energy coalescing around him in green tendrils of electricity, his
eyes nearly emitting a green hue. He looked around at everyone,
seemingly calculating his strategy, then taking all that energy and
just letting it burst forth in pulse of electric energy.
Stacy shot a glare Ari's way then
turned and ran like hell. Flo Jo herself couldn't have done better
and that's even while she was wearing heels and a mini skirt. As soon
as she hit the offices she started frantically searching. The man was
a pack rat sometimes. "Box..box...where's the damn box??"
Olivia floated up into the air,
putting her feet under her as soon as she could while she put
distance between herself and the robots. "I'm SICK of being the
good, obedient daughter! You NEVER cared about me! Only you're stupid
reputation!"
Dechs jerked harshly at the EMP,
writhing for a moment, then mumbled as he muscled through obvious
pain and simply threw a right hook at Jade's jaw. "Why the hell
am I even trying this?"
Jade's head jerked to the side as the
punch connected, using his years of experience to keep his focus, and
continued to mutter arcane words, letting more energy flow around
him.
The largest robot crumpled to the
floor, inactive from the EMP. The two smaller bots seemed to have
been hit, but only slightly. They fidgeted, but recovered quickly.
Stacy suddenly spied the box as she
lifted a stack of papers. "Got it!" she yelled and headed
back downstairs.
Reprieve was throwing arcane
lightning at Olivia, while more of it continued to gather around her
wrists and ankles, quickly reappearing each time she dissipated it.
When Stacy saw Ari she yelled, "Here!
I got it!"
Jade dead-eyed Olivia, wrapping the
air around his daughter, and pulling her through a rip in the
universe to stand in front of him, greeting her with a smile. "Well,
at least you get points for finally having the guts to stand up and
try to take something for yourself, instead of letting everyone else
dictate your life for you!”
Olivia began collecting the lightning
Ari threw at her, drawing the power from his spells at her wrists and
ankles as well, forming a large green orb above her head. She let
Jade pull it - instead of herself - detonating it with a word as it
appeared in front of him.
Jade looked surprised as the energy
detonated, sending him down to his knees.
Of course Stacy had to take it to
him. She moved as quickly as she could, coming to a stuttering halt
when she was barely in arms reach. With the box in hand and
stretching towards Ari, she cried, "Here!"
Reprieve reached out with his hand
toward Stacy, magically summoning the box, causing it to fly open and
compelling the wand into to his hand. He turned it on Jade first,
drawing the toxic chaos energy from him.
Dechs cursed as his fist didn't seem
to do anything. A force field flashed around him, deflecting Olivia's
detonation. He made a move to subdue Jade, forcing fingers into his
mouth, depressing his tongue. "Bite me, you sonofabitch. Can’t
speak? Can’t cast your shit."
As soon as the box left Stacy's hand
she turned to head to safety, hearing Dechs' smack talk. She couldn't
help but think the man might be in for a rude surprise if he thought
gagging Jade was gonna stop the fight.
Reprieve collected the Goqua energy
from Jade with the wand, then turned the wand to Olivia to draw it
out of her as well, yelling at Stacy as she departed. "Stay
close, I'll need you to tally up the damage and send both Jade and
Olivia the bill."
Stay close? Start a tally? What did
the man think she'd been doing all along? And as for staying close,
not hardly! They were throwing lighting bolts for gods sake! And the
runes that supposedly kept things safe...weren't. She'd noticed that
too.
A spark of energy from the beginning
of a spell sputtered around Jade, as Jade’s face contorted in pain,
and then he slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Olivia turned her attention squarely
to Ari while reinforcing her protections. "And all you care
about--" Her words were cut off with a pained cry as the energy
was suddenly ripped from her by his wand, and she fell, unconscious,
to the floor.
Dechs let go of Jade and flicked some
of the spit off his hand, then wiped the rest off on the collar of
Jade’s cape.
Reprieve set the wand back in the box
and closed the lid, placing it on the bar, then looked around at the
damage. "This is why I stopped letting Untruth's minions in
here, at least they never tore the bar out of the floor."
Reprieve sighed, and stepped over to
Olivia, kneeling down to check on her while asking Dechs about Jade.
"Is he breathing?"
Dechs leaned down to check Jade’s
pulse, then nodded and turned to Ari. “I'll pay my share of
damages.”
Stacy peeked around the corner at
the mention of paying for damages, looking mad as hell. He was damn
right he'd pay his share!
Reprieve turned to Stacy. “You can
come out now, Stacy. Start getting the damage assessment done. And
get the most expensive contractors in here to fix all of this.”
She gingerly stepped clear. "Family
drama time over?"
Reprieve turned to Dechs. "You
can keep your money, I'm billing these two."
Dechs looked back and forth between
Olivia and Jade. "I'd like to get them back to my hospital. I
can look after them and I've got what it takes to contain them, as
well as protect them."
Stacy stood there, looking as though
she was about to cry. "...My poor bar...”
Reprieve shook his head. "Take
Jade. I'll take care of Olivia. I think it's best if we keep them
separate for now. As in, different buildings, separate."
Stacy muttered under her breath,
still surveying the damages. "Give them lobotomies. Damn magic
users."
Dechs nodded in agreement, then
closed his eyes while the Spade robot rebooted and lumbered back up
to its feet. "Get back up damnit, and take Jade with you on the
way back."
Stacy looked at Dechs as he started
to leave. "Don't forget the lobotomy...I'll pay."
Dechs smirked over at Stacy. "I'll
consider it."
She smirked back. He thought she was
joking.
Reprieve picked Olivia up and carried
her through the area behind the stage.
The Spade kneels down near Jade, then activates a teleport for the
two of them.
4/26/2012
Reunion
Edgar prowled the streets of the Rogue Isles. He thought to himself how this whole island was like South Florida on Crack. He could feel the balance shifting throughout the day. After his arrival, and being introduced to the woman who would be keeping an eye on Eric Crane, he could tell that that wasn't going to produce much. He couldn't blame the girl for not wanting to be anywhere near him.
As Edgar neared a cliff overlooking the coast, he could make out a figure leaning against some kind of magical altar. Edgar was too far away to make out the details of the figure, but he knew who it was. Edgar closed the distance between himself and his nemesis. Edgar could smell the blood coming from the same direction, keeping his prey in his sights, the moonlight casting shadows from the nearby trees, a light breeze playing at the figure's coattails.
Edgar's paw stepped in something wet, looking down far too late to realize what exactly he had stepped into, feeling the release of magic all arcross the cliff. Edgar stood up as the figure pushed off from the tree he was leaning against, closing the rest of the distance, coming to stand right in front of Edgar. The man was 6 feet tall, wearing the typical black Armani suit that the gentleman was so fond of, with a bright red shirt that peeked through the well-tailored suit.
"How long has it been, my long lost friend? Days? Years? It was hard to keep track in my prison."
Edgar scoffed as he glared at the man. Goqua was also very fond of taking the body of very attractive men. Edgar's voice betrayed a rising temper, "Friends? So you've come back just to insult me?"
Goqua's voice was calm and silky, "How long have we danced this dance? Did you miss me? How was your retirement?"
"Is this how you treat your friends? By keeping them shut in a cage?", Edgar replied a little more hotly than Edgar intended.
"Well, I could say that I'm just repaying the hospitality you've shown me, but I just wanted to talk. Like I said, we've done this before. It's like, old hat. But really, is this the reward you were seeking? To have the good life ripped away from you the minute I return. Aren't you tired of this? Stuck in the mortal coil, restrained by the rules, cleaning up my messes for another 1000 years until you figure out how to break the rules and bottle me up again? Kudos on that by the way. I really didn't think you had it in you."
Edgar started to tremble with his anger, "It was done once, it can be done again."
Goqua smiled, crooning, "Are you so sure about that? This world. It's special. Full of chaos already, just inviting me to add my artistry to it's canvas. You know, just with the gifts you've been given, and breaking the rules, takes a bit of chaos. You know, together..."
Edgar laughed, "Bite me."
Goqua smiled again, "You've really adopted the language. You've broken the rules before. Why not just quit this time? Walk away. Go to Maui, or the Carrabian. Talking cats, beasts of lore, all comonplace here. You could really be yourself and enjoy yourself here."
Edgar snarled, "You know what I enjoyed most? Beating you."
Goqua's tone became more sarcastic, "Yes, of course. I heard about Angel. You ran off for your retirement and left her alone, and oops! She went off and finally got herself killed."
At this, Edgar lept at his adversary, claws flashing in the moonlight. Goqua mearly batted Edgar away with the back of his hand, like a ragdoll. Edgar went flying into the stone alter, leaving a dent in the stone.
The magic shield around the cliff faded as Goqua straightened his sleeves, looking over at Edgar's slumped body, the hate written all over Edgars face, "Silly cat. The 'pendulum' is on my side now."
As Goqua tugged on his sleeves, his physical form molded into a man with long blond hair, and slightly shorter than he originally appeared, speaking with an english accent, "Cherio."
As Edgar neared a cliff overlooking the coast, he could make out a figure leaning against some kind of magical altar. Edgar was too far away to make out the details of the figure, but he knew who it was. Edgar closed the distance between himself and his nemesis. Edgar could smell the blood coming from the same direction, keeping his prey in his sights, the moonlight casting shadows from the nearby trees, a light breeze playing at the figure's coattails.
Edgar's paw stepped in something wet, looking down far too late to realize what exactly he had stepped into, feeling the release of magic all arcross the cliff. Edgar stood up as the figure pushed off from the tree he was leaning against, closing the rest of the distance, coming to stand right in front of Edgar. The man was 6 feet tall, wearing the typical black Armani suit that the gentleman was so fond of, with a bright red shirt that peeked through the well-tailored suit.
"How long has it been, my long lost friend? Days? Years? It was hard to keep track in my prison."
Edgar scoffed as he glared at the man. Goqua was also very fond of taking the body of very attractive men. Edgar's voice betrayed a rising temper, "Friends? So you've come back just to insult me?"
Goqua's voice was calm and silky, "How long have we danced this dance? Did you miss me? How was your retirement?"
"Is this how you treat your friends? By keeping them shut in a cage?", Edgar replied a little more hotly than Edgar intended.
"Well, I could say that I'm just repaying the hospitality you've shown me, but I just wanted to talk. Like I said, we've done this before. It's like, old hat. But really, is this the reward you were seeking? To have the good life ripped away from you the minute I return. Aren't you tired of this? Stuck in the mortal coil, restrained by the rules, cleaning up my messes for another 1000 years until you figure out how to break the rules and bottle me up again? Kudos on that by the way. I really didn't think you had it in you."
Edgar started to tremble with his anger, "It was done once, it can be done again."
Goqua smiled, crooning, "Are you so sure about that? This world. It's special. Full of chaos already, just inviting me to add my artistry to it's canvas. You know, just with the gifts you've been given, and breaking the rules, takes a bit of chaos. You know, together..."
Edgar laughed, "Bite me."
Goqua smiled again, "You've really adopted the language. You've broken the rules before. Why not just quit this time? Walk away. Go to Maui, or the Carrabian. Talking cats, beasts of lore, all comonplace here. You could really be yourself and enjoy yourself here."
Edgar snarled, "You know what I enjoyed most? Beating you."
Goqua's tone became more sarcastic, "Yes, of course. I heard about Angel. You ran off for your retirement and left her alone, and oops! She went off and finally got herself killed."
At this, Edgar lept at his adversary, claws flashing in the moonlight. Goqua mearly batted Edgar away with the back of his hand, like a ragdoll. Edgar went flying into the stone alter, leaving a dent in the stone.
The magic shield around the cliff faded as Goqua straightened his sleeves, looking over at Edgar's slumped body, the hate written all over Edgars face, "Silly cat. The 'pendulum' is on my side now."
As Goqua tugged on his sleeves, his physical form molded into a man with long blond hair, and slightly shorter than he originally appeared, speaking with an english accent, "Cherio."
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